Blood and Fire Read online

  He looked into Jazmine's eyes. They seemed almost purple in the light from the streetlamp. He really liked her eyes; it was like they changed color and every time he looked into them, they were different. It was one of the things he had come to adore about Jazmine. She was so different. He lifted her cold hand and kissed the top of it.

  "I'm sorry," he said. "I have been distant lately."

  "That's putting it mildly," she said with a chuckle. "Are you here now? With me?"

  Their eyes locked. Jayden felt warm. He really liked Jazmine and enjoyed being with her, but did he love her? Love was such a big word, wasn't it? Again, his glance landed on Robyn's window, but he removed it quickly to be sure Jazmine didn't notice.

  "Yes. I am here. I’m all yours. Now tell me what was so odd?"

  "Don't you think it was strange that the blood made her throw up?" Jazmine asked. They continued to walk toward her house.

  Jayden shrugged. He hadn't really thought about it, to be honest. "Maybe. I don't know how this works. It might take a while for her to get used to it? Maybe her stomach can't take too much at a time?"

  "True," Jazmine said. "But still. Melanie didn't even seem like she wanted it in the first place. It was like she only did it because we told her to. Aren't vampires supposed to crave blood and desire it desperately? Like freakin' maniacs?"

  Jayden shrugged again. "We don't really know that. It might just be in the movies. Or maybe her transformation hasn't reached that level yet. Plus, she wasn't in her vampire form when we saw her. Maybe it only works at night."

  "Amy said she didn't drink the glass she had put in there for her the night before either," Jazmine said.

  Jayden chuckled.

  "What?" Jazmine asked.

  "It's just…our conversations keep getting weirder and weirder. Here we are discussing why some girl won't drink blood. I never thought I would say any of these words combined in a sentence. Ever."

  That made Jazmine laugh. "I know what you mean."

  They walked up to her front door. Jayden leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. Jazmine smiled.

  "You wanna come in for a cup of tea or hot chocolate?"

  He shook his head. "It's late. I should be getting home. School tomorrow, remember?"

  "So, that's your excuse tonight," she said, smiling, but not sounding happy.

  "What do you mean?" he asked.

  She shook her head. "Nothing."

  "Come on, I know you. It's not nothing."

  She looked up and glanced into his eyes. "It's just…you never want to do anything. At least not with me."

  "That's not true," he said, even though he knew she was right. He didn't really know what it was exactly, but he just felt so…confused. He was very worried about Robyn being in the house alone with those…vampires. Yet he couldn't do anything about it. So, yes, you might say his mind was preoccupied.

  "Really?" Jazmine said, smiling.

  He smiled back reassuringly. "Really."

  Chapter Ten

  Jazmine kissed Jayden on the cheek, then rushed inside to get back into the heat. She closed the door carefully behind her, thinking her parents had to be heavily asleep by now. It was, after all, almost midnight. She thought about Jayden and the conversation they had just had. What was going on with him? Well, she probably knew. Deep down, she knew but wasn't happy to admit it. Neither of them was. He was worried about Robyn and understandably so since they had known each other since they were babies and shared this special bond. And that would be okay if only Jayden hadn't whined about how much he loved Robyn when Jazmine had just moved there. Was he really able to shut that off just like that? Was anyone able to do that? Did his love for Robyn run deeper than she had first thought? Maybe even deeper than he wanted to admit?

  She didn't like to think about it. Jazmine really liked him. And it was strange how the more she felt like she couldn't have him, the more she wanted him. What was that all about?

  She walked into the kitchen and grabbed herself a sandwich, when she heard a sound coming from the living room and walked toward it. She stood in the doorway, eating her sandwich, as she watched her mother engaged in something she found a little strange.

  She was sitting with BamBam, their cat. There was nothing odd about that, but it was more the way she was sitting with it. It was in her lap, looking up at her. She was staring deep into its eyes, both of their eyes lighting up so brightly it created sort of a halo around them both.

  It was almost like they were…communicating.

  "Yes," her mother said addressed to the cat. Then she laughed like the cat had said something funny. "I see. Well, there really isn't much you can do about that, is there?"

  What the heck is she doing? Is she talking to the cat? Believing it is answering her?

  Startled, Jazmine made a sound that made her mother turn her head. Jazmine stepped to the side to hide, while the light from her mother's eyes scanned the doorway. Jazmine held her breath, half of a sandwich still in her mouth.

  The light turned away again, and Jazmine stood still for a little while, wondering what the heck was going on. She couldn't let her mother see her, let her know she had seen her with the cat. Cautious to not make a sound, she rushed to her room, finishing her sandwich before bed.

  In bed, she stared at the ceiling for quite some time, wondering what she had just witnessed. She was very worried about her mother since she hadn't seemed like herself ever since they moved to Shadow Hills. For a while, Jazmine had suspected that maybe she was having an affair, but she had no evidence to support this theory. Now, as she lay there, she wondered if her mother maybe simply was losing her mind. Was this place driving her crazy? Maybe it wasn't just her. Lately, Jazmine had heard and seen things that seemed so surreal she wouldn't even know how to explain them.

  Maybe they were all going insane?

  Jazmine closed her eyes to sleep. Outside her window, an owl had taken shelter from the cold wind and was hooting into the dark night.

  Chapter Eleven

  Jayden walked into his house and up the stairs when he heard voices coming from the kitchen. Thinking his mom was still awake and maybe he could persuade her to make him something to eat, he walked in there, only to see Robyn's mother, Camille, there with her. Jayden gasped and hid by the door, holding his breath.

  What the heck is she doing here? Why is she here? They hate each other! No, they loathe each other.

  A spark of hope emerged inside of him, thinking that maybe they were becoming friends again like they used to be, and if they did, maybe, just maybe that meant he would be able to see Robyn again.

  Could he be that lucky?

  "You're being ridiculous…again," he heard his mother growl.

  Apparently, not that lucky, he thought to himself, disappointed. They were fighting, as usual.

  "I am not," Robyn's mother said. "It's the truth."

  "I don't doubt it's the truth in your mind, Camille. But you have a tendency to see things that aren't really there. Paranoid tendencies some might call them."

  Robyn's mother answered with a snort. "You always were naïve, my dear Claire," Camille said.

  "Well, excuse me for thinking the best of people, for giving them the benefit of the doubt before I claim that they are…"

  "You refuse to see things clearly like me. The world isn't a wonderful place with only unicorns and rainbows. There is evil out there…evil that will want to…"

  Jayden's mother sighed. "You don't think I know that? I know humans want to hurt us, all of us. But that doesn’t mean that…just because some guy moves onto the street that he is…"

  "He had spiders, Claire. Tarantulas in a small glass tank. Says he brings them everywhere."

  Jayden's mom went quiet. "Oh, dear Lord."

  "This guy is here for us. I’m telling you, Claire. And you know what they do to the likes of us, don't you?"

  Jayden's mother nodded. "All right, Camille. I see your point…for once."

  Robyn's mother exhal
ed, satisfied. "Good."

  "So, what do you suggest we do?"

  "Keep a low profile. All of us. We must keep an eye on this guy, watch his every move and for all that it is worth, keep that son of yours inside at night."

  "You know I can't do that just as you can’t keep Adrian inside. It's in their blood now. They're too young, they do stupid things, yes, but it is part of becoming who they are. If I lock the door, he'll find another way out. He's not aware of his actions yet."

  Camille hit her fist on the table. "But the killings must stop," she hissed. "It's what led this guy here in the first place."

  "Look who’s talking," Claire said. "Didn't you just get a load of refugees and are keeping them down at the church?"

  "Yes, well, they aren't just for us. They're for everyone. I know the pastor. He takes care of all of us around here. "

  "It's disgusting is what it is."

  "Would you rather have us feed on people around here, huh?"

  Claire snorted. "I just wished…well, I wished you would stop. People are getting scared."

  "What is it exactly you think I’m doing, huh?"

  "You're killing people, humans. People are freaking out. I’m not fond of humans either, I think they’re rude, and I can't stand the way they're destroying their world with plastic, but we have to live with them. Not kill them."

  Camille hissed again. "No one from my family has killed any humans around here. We never feed on people where we live, and you know that."

  "And Adrian isn't either? How do you know that?"

  "Because I keep him fed, that's how. I am in control of my son, that’s more than I can say about you."

  Jayden's mother exhaled loudly. "And now we're back to where we started."

  Camille rose to her feet and, in the blink of an eye, she stood by the door, then stopped close to where Jayden was hiding. Heart in his throat, Jayden rushed up the stairs and stood at the top and heard the rest.

  "We're not getting anywhere with this," Camille said. "I have to get home. But low profile, okay? And no more killings."

  Camille moved so fast out of the front door, Jayden didn't even see her. All he heard was the door slamming shut, followed by his mother's deep sigh coming from the kitchen.

  Chapter Twelve

  I saw them. From my window, I watched Jazmine and Jayden walk back to her house, stand outside and kiss—at least that was what I assumed they did—before he finally left. Never had my heart been so overwhelmed with jealousy. Not only because they were dating, but they had their freedom as well. They weren't constantly alone, cooped inside a house like I was. Imprisoned. I couldn't stand it, couldn't stand looking at these walls or ceilings anymore. It was driving me nuts. I wanted to scream but didn't even dare to do that.

  After watching them, I closed the curtains and put on headphones while watching Stranger Things on Netflix, trying to block out the world around me, trying to forget how miserable my life really was.

  I had watched three more episodes when there was a knock on my window. I shrieked, startled, and walked to pull aside the curtains.

  "Jayden?" I said, trying to lower my voice so my parents and brother wouldn't hear anything, but it was quite hard, considering my level of surprise.

  I opened it and stared at him. He had used the old ladder to climb up the side of the house. He had a terrified look on his face.

  "Are you crazy?"

  He slid inside, looked at me, looked deep into my eyes, then said. "I know it’s dangerous, but I had to see you."

  "But…" I said and closed the window behind him, closing the curtain as well, so no one would see him from the street.

  My heart was racing in my chest as I turned to face him. If my mom found him in my room, there was no telling what she would do. I was thrilled to see him, yes, of course, but it was such a great risk I wasn't sure it was worth it. Looking into his brown eyes did feel like it was, though.

  He stared into mine, a gentle smile spreading across his face. He reached out and touched my cheek, biting his lip.

  "How are you?" he asked in a whisper. "How are you holding up in here?"

  I swallowed, feeling the warmth from his touch spread across my body. It had been a long time since I had been close to any human, and I was surprised at the warmth I felt. Whenever I was close to anyone in my family, it always made me shiver with cold, and sometimes I even found it hard to breathe properly.

  "I'm okay," I lied.

  Fact was, I wasn't. Not at all. I was suffering greatly. Constantly terrified my parents would somehow find out what I knew about them. And I missed being with my friends and I missed being with Jayden. I wondered if he missed me too. The look in his eyes told me he did. It felt reassuring since it was all I wondered about all day long when they were in school or when I watched them in the street. Would they forget about me? Would he? Out of sight, out of mind kind of thing?

  I exhaled, then took in a deep breath, taking in his wonderful smell again, hoping to be able to keep it with me even after he was gone.

  "So, what was so important?" I asked.

  "Your mom was at my house when I got home," he said. "I…I feel so confused."

  "My mom?" I asked, startled. "What was she doing at your house?"

  "That's what I thought too," he said, "so I listened in on their conversation, and to be frank, Robyn, I’m starting to get terrified it's not just your family that…you know."

  I tilted my head and looked into his eyes, wondering what he was trying to tell me. "What do you mean? Jayden?"

  He exhaled and sat on my bed, shaking his head. "I…I don't know…I don't understand a thing, to be honest."

  "Just tell me…what were they talking about?"

  Chapter Thirteen

  What confused me most was the way they kept talking about humans like they were a completely different species," Jayden said.

  He was still on my bed, hiding his head in his hands. He had told me the entire conversation between our moms and, to be frank, I had to sit down for this one too. I sat next to him on the bed.

  "So, you're telling me that…your parents…not only do they know what my parents are…they are…might be…it too?"

  The prospect made me feel dizzy. Could it be that I wasn't the only one? I wasn't alone after all?

  He shrugged and looked up. "I…guess."

  "I mean, it kind of makes sense when thinking about your brother," I said. "He started sneaking out at night too right after turning eighteen. Just like Adrian."

  "Sure…yes, but I thought he went out with his friends, you know drinking and doing stupid stuff in the park…but not…?"

  I swallowed hard. It was awful what Jayden was telling me, but I had to admit I kind of enjoyed it. To think that I wasn't the only one who had parents that were…that. It made me happy. I felt comforted. Was that wrong of me? Suddenly, I felt guilty.

  "I'm sorry," I said. "That you have to go through this."

  "You should have heard them, Robyn. They spoke like humans were the scum of the earth, like they were worthless, but—hey, they have to share the world with them. Like…like…" he looked into my eyes, then continued: "…like they didn't belong to this world. Like it wasn't theirs. And then they talked about killing humans and how your parents…had refugees—captives, Robyn—that they fed on and that they shouldn't feed on humans around here because it created unnecessary attention toward them. I mean, who talks like that, Robyn? Who?"

  "Vampires," I said, swallowing hard. "Vampires with no regard for human lives."

  "But…but we're humans. You and me. Their children. Aren't we?" he asked with uncertainty in his voice.

  "Last time I checked," I said.

  Jayden let out a deep groan. He stood up, covering his mouth.

  "What?" I asked.

  "It just occurred to me."

  "What did? You're scaring me, Jayden."

  "Our brothers."

  "What about them?"

  "They…they used to be humans jus
t like us. And now they're…they're… don't you see it, Robyn?"

  I stared at him, then nodded. "Yes, the thought has crossed my mind while being in here all alone."

  "So, it's going to happen. Just like that? They're going to turn us when we're eighteen, huh? They're going to turn us into…what they are."

  "Vampires, yes," I said. I tried to pretend like the thought didn't scare me like crazy because it did. I had tried not to think about it for a very long time, simply because I couldn't bear the thought of becoming like them.

  "And we don't get to have a say in it?" he asked, reaching out his arms. "At all?"

  "Knowing my parents, I know I won't," I said. "I’m pretty sure Adrian wasn't given a choice. I don't think he would have agreed to this willingly, giving up everything that he loved."

  Jayden stared at me. "And you're just okay with it? With becoming…that?"

  "You can say the word, geez, Jayden. Vampires. And, no, I am not okay with it at all. But right now, all I’m doing is surviving this nightmare. Taking one day at a time. It's all I…all we can do right now."

  Jayden made a shrieking sound a little too loud and, less than a second later, my mother entered my room, without knocking of course.

  Chapter Fourteen

  What was that?"

  Much to my surprise, Jayden must have heard her before I did because he was gone when I looked for him. Hiding under the bed—yes, what a cliché—but still he was gone, out of sight at least.

  I swallowed hard and looked at my mother. "What was what?"

  "I heard a sound," she said.

  I shook my head. "I didn't."

  My mom walked to the window and peeked out. My heart was literally throbbing in my throat.

  Please, don't see the ladder. Please, don't see it.

  "Hm," my mother grunted. "Maybe it was something coming from outside. You didn't close the window all the way down," she said and slid it down, then locked it. "There. Now there shouldn't be any more noises. But you, my dear, should be asleep."