“I’m not the monster in this world, Kaitlyn,” Ren growls, and without a care for the humans around us, he makes another portal right in the middle of the road. Taking my hand, he steers me to the portal and through it to another street.
But this one I know so well. Just like the tiny house in front of me. The slate roof, the dark brown brick walls, and white framed windows make my heart ache for my old home. The home I grew up in with rose bushes by the front door and a wooden duck my dad bought my mum for one of their anniversaries. I take a step forward as I see my mum walk out of the yellow front door with a bag of rubbish in her hands.
“Hello!” she says, smiling at us both with not a care in the world. Her messy blonde locks of hair fly around in the wind, and she has a few more wrinkles on her face than she did a year ago. “My husband never takes the rubbish out, such a lazy man, aye?”
Any words get trapped in my throat as I stare at my mother, who doesn’t know me at all. I feel gutted, lost and in pain as I look at her.
Ren laughs, wrapping an arm around my waist, and in my shock, I don’t move. “We are newlyweds, so I still take the rubbish out.”
My mum’s eyes twinkle with humour at Ren’s lie, and she looks closer at me. “That won’t last, make the most of it.” She pauses, staring at me a little closer, but never steps off the curb into the road. “Do...I mean, have we met?”
“No, we are new to the town. Just on a walk,” I find myself saying, my voice surprisingly neutral even when it hurts so much. Even when every inch of me wants to run to my mum’s arms and hold her tightly and never once let go.
But she doesn’t know me. She smiles and shakes her head of curls. “Never mind. Well, see you both around. Have a lovely night!”
I watch my mum walk into her house before the first tear falls, and then so many follow it. My past is gone, wiped away into dust. I hardly notice as Ren steps in front of me, his hands cupping my cheeks and his thumbs wiping away my tears. “Who is the real monster? How can the angels be good when they do this? When they take so much?”
Maybe Ren is right...this world isn’t black and white. Somewhere in the grey, I need to find someone to fight for.
And would it be the worst thing in the world if that someone was closer than I thought possible?
Chapter 38
“Welcome to vampire defence, Miss Lightson, my name is Mr. Evetide,” the snooty, thin man states as he stands in front of me. His arms are held behind his back, and his green suit looks like something out of the seventies, made out of pure velvet. “You are quite behind, but our coven leader demanded you learn defence set out for vampires, so here we are.”
“Yep,” I answer as I watch vampires jump from one ledge to another in the air. Each jump is perfect and in sync with the other vampires until they make one perfect moving circle. On the other side of the room are angels in a line, their chains clipped to the wall so they can’t move. I recognise Bonnie and Jessica in the group, though they are both napping against the wall, looking pale and nothing like the feisty and bitchy people I used to know.
Everything has changed.
“Miss Lightson, I would like for you to run the circuit with the other vampires. Go ahead,” he says, waving a hand at the pillars. I look at him with wide eyes, wondering if he has lost his goddamn mind. He sighs when I don’t move, stepping closer. “You are half vampire, and I have been told you are from an old vampire bloodline. This should be child’s play for you.”
“Sir, poor Katy is new and stupid. I’m afraid she won’t be able to do this.” I cringe at Miranda’s annoying high-pitched voice as she walks over. Wearing little to nothing bright pink shorts and a tank top, she smiles at me. “Why our master loves her, I will never understand. Soon he will stop pining over you and climb into my bed. I will show him things you never could even think of.”
“I agree,” I say, crossing my arms and smiling. “Anyone could climb into your bed as it’s just that easy. Maybe Ren likes a challenge? Maybe being easy is just...not what he or anyone decent ever wants.”
“You bitch,” she growls, stepping into my face. “I could rip you to pieces where you stand.”
I laugh, stepping that inch closer. “You could try and see where it gets you.”
“Girls—” Mr. Evetide says, but I hardly hear him until he shoves in the middle of us. “Miranda, leave my classroom at once if you cannot be nice. As it stands, Miss Lightson is with our king and that merits her our respect. We are all aware of their mating, and once the mating is final, Miss Lightson will be our queen. Do not make it impossible for you to stay in this coven. Ren is not forgiving in nature, and I would know; I’ve known him since he was born.”
I look around, noticing everyone is watching and all the vamps are gathered around. For the first time, I notice how young some of the vamps in the room are. One girl, about eight with fiery red hair, narrows her eyes at me, and I look away. I can’t be on the wrong side. Angels are good...I believe that.
But why does my gut tell me something else? Something I’ve never thought of.
Turning to me, he narrows his eyes. “Miss Lightson, while you might not be happy to be here or want to learn about our people, you are still young and need lessons. I will not have fighting or disrespect in my class. Now get on those pillars and make the run and jump.”
“Fine,” I mutter, shoving away from them both and running to the pillar. I push off the ground and instead of landing on the pillar, I just miss the top but catch the edge with my hands, scraping them as I hold on. I pull myself up and balance on top, albeit a little shakily.
“Trust in your abilities. In your blood, Kaitlyn,” Mr. Evetide shouts up. “Close your eyes, that sometimes helps. You could be overthinking this.”
Okay, Kaitlyn...you can do this. Come on. Miranda cannot win this argument by me proving her right. I close my eyes before resting my arms back, and without overthinking it, I jump and then jump again. Soon it becomes a natural movement, my feet always hitting the pillar perfectly without fail. I open my eyes to see the other vamps are running with me, and right in this moment, I’m part of the vampire coven...and I don’t hate it.
“How was class?” Thallon asks as I take my boots off and leave them by the door. A wave of dizziness hits me before I can answer, and Thallon catches me before I fall to the floor. He carries me to the bed, and I’m sure he is talking even as all I hear is the sound of his heartbeat, the way his neck looks so inviting. Shaking my head, I push him away, climbing back on the bed.
“You’re feeling better then?” I question him.
Thallon frowns, reaching for me, but I jump away until my head hits the headboard. “Don’t come closer. I-I need Ren.”
“No, you don’t. Talk to me, Kaitlyn,” he softly asks, inching closer. I shake my head once more, but it doesn’t stop him as he climbs on to the bed but doesn’t touch me. He watches me like a deer he could easily spook, and right now I feel like one. “It’s me, Kaitlyn. The doofus you liked to play board games with and beat all the time. How did you do that, by the way?”
I chuckle, shaking my head. “Luck.”