Chapter 14

Paden completely wigged out when he saw the message and ran around the house, smelling for the intruder. Apparently, whoever had written the message had lingered in his parents’ rooms and his father’s office. After Paden calmed down and finally packed a bag, they all went downstairs. He left a note for the maid to have a locksmith change the locks on the house and to take the rest of the week off. He didn't want anyone at the house in case the Dark Ones came back. He left voice mails telling his parents he had changed the locks because he lost his keys at the concert and to call him when they got back in town. Then Paden called Weylin to warn him of possible intruders at his house and agreed to meet him at the antique shop in an hour.

Over slices of the cake Ree’s mother sent, Bryce told them about the lecture he had received from his parents. Turns out it was only because he hadn't answered his parents’ phone calls. He had told them he was staying with Paden and Weylin for a movie fest this week, but he had to check in every night.

“Even at eighteen, you aren't really an adult in their eyes.” He sighed and ate a chip. “I mean, they act like I have a curfew.”

“Oh, hush. They just love you,” Jules said. Her story had been the strangest. Apparently her father had torn into her for being out all night with her boyfriend. She had glossed over the facts, but Ree knew her father didn’t like her dating a boy that wasn’t Japanese. Just when her father was about to ground her, though, her mother, who never intervened, came in and told him to stop.

“It was the weirdest thing. In Japanese she told my father the goddess had chosen me to do her work and he should be proud of me. And the best part? He shut up, but not before apologizing. Told me to do what I must, but to be careful.” She looked immensely happy with herself. “Can you believe that? Maybe this immortal gig isn't so bad!”

“So, what? You think your mom knows all about this stuff? I mean, it’s on her side of the family that you’re related to the goddess, right?” Ree asked.

“I guess she knows something. And it makes sense. Our family has always believed that, somewhere down the line, we were related to Amaterasu.” She blushed a little. “I know that sounds odd to people from the West, but it was the way we were brought up. Most of the family treated it like a superstition, but my grandfather was a big believer. Always said he knew it was a fact. I guess it’s possible he had seen something at one time or another. I mean, humans have to notice something around them sometimes. How could they miss it all?”

No one really had anything to say to that. Ree had noticed odd things as she was growing up, but now she knew it had to do with her being the Alastriana. She figured it was possible other people had gifts or noticed things. If the Dark Ones were feeding off of humans, it was possible someone escaped to tell the tale.

They left Paden’s car at his house and rode with Bryce. They could all fit in his SUV if need be, so it made sense to take his car. The antique shop wasn't far; nothing was really far in downtown Savannah. Sophie had been lucky enough to get a shop on Broughton Street that actually had its own small parking lot in the back. Bryce parked the SUV in one of the tiny spots, and they all went in through the back door.

Sophie was up front with a client, so they sat around in some of the old chairs in the work room. It was full of antiques waiting to be refinished and the tools that were used to fix them. There was a desk with a computer and disorganized paperwork littering it. A small kitchen area with a single sink, a small fridge, and a microwave filled the rest of the space. All of the real magic of the place was in the storefront. The antiques were arranged beautifully, like little rooms set up throughout the place and odds and ends tucked here and there. It was one of the best showcases Ree had ever seen.

The back door banged open and Weylin came in, carrying a sack full of burgers. He waved at the dust floating in the air. “Immortal Lady must not have heard of Swiffer dusters.”

Ree rolled her eyes. Leave it to Weylin to show up with food and jokes. Even though they had eaten at Paden’s house, the guys hopped up and snatched the bag from Weylins’ fingers. Paden started tossing the sandwiches to everyone. Ree tried to not be hurt by the fact that he still wasn't looking at her. He hadn't commented on anything she had said or done since the 'almost' kiss. She must’ve read that whole situation wrong and had freaked him out. Grimacing, she unfolded the wrapper of the burger in her hands but she wasn't really hungry.

“Hey, guys. I'll be back in a minute.” Sophie whisked through the doors into the stock room, grabbed some papers from her desk, and was back out the door before it had even closed all of the way.

“Does she always move that fast?” Jules was munching on her sandwich.

“Um, I've only worked here for like a week. She always seemed to have a lot of energy, but now I think maybe it’s from the whole Guardian thing.” She shook her head. “Or maybe she isn't hiding how fast she can move from us, anymore.”

“Do we know what all of the Guardian-Immortal benefits are?” Weylin asked.

“I can see a lot better than before. Not just at night, but during the day, too. Like, count the leaves on the tree at the end of the street better. It was an adjustment this morning.” Juliette looked at Weylin for a moment. “Even in this dim light I can tell you need to shave.”

“Hey, ladies like rugged-looking men!” Weylin protested.

“Don't forget a more acute sense of smell. Better hope you wore some cologne, Wey,” Bryce said with a smile. Ree giggled when Weylin pulled the collar of his shirt up to his nose and sniffed before shrugging his shoulders.

Paden rolled his eyes at them, before adding, “And our hearing is better.”

“Not to mention you're much stronger and faster,” Sophie said as she pushed through the doors once more. They all heard the doorbell ring, letting them know the previous customer was gone. She plopped down at her desk chair and slouched down. “That man wouldn't believe me about the antique if I had taken a picture of the stupid chair when I bought it in 1882. Has it been refinished? Are you sure it’s authentic? How many times can one person answer the same question before going insane?” She shook her head.

“Did you really buy that chair in 1882?” Ree was extremely curious.

“I sure did. It was beautiful craftsmanship. I knew it would age well and fetch a large amount of money later on. That idiot of a man wouldn’t know it, though.” Sophie shook her head.

“It was beautiful,” Ree agreed.

“So, not to be rude, but what do we do now? I mean, I feel like we should be doing something,” Juliette said.

“I'm going to close up the shop early today so I can go back to the island with you to start training. It’s time for the rest of you to be turned.”

Weylin and Bryce shifted nervously, but neither of them said a thing.

“Where’s Melanie? I thought she would be with you, Wey.” Ree looked at him with confusion. They were always together. Their family had been very close and the two of them had grown up like brother and sister.

“Yeah, well, Aunt Kay blew her top about last night. Last I heard, Mel was trying to call her grandmother to get some support. She said she would call when she could escape.”

Sophie pursed her lips. “She needs to be with us. No one can afford to have their training even a day behind. Let me make some phone calls and see what I can do.”

She got up and left, pulling her cell phone out of her back pocket as she went through the back door. Everyone sat there for a minute without saying anything, each consumed by their own thoughts.

“Sooooo,” Weylin said after a little while had passed. “Is this really happening? We're just going to accept what she says as the truth?  Could we get, like, a second opinion?”

Juliette snorted and rolled her eyes at him.

“I think it’s true, Weylin. You saw how those guys chased us last night. You saw Paden and Juliette's fangs, you saw my eyes do that weird thing. I mean, what else should we think?” Ree shrugged her shoulders.

“I just feel like there’s something missing, here. All of our lives things go by like every other teenager’s life, and then BAM! We're some kind of super immortal battling evil? Am I the only one that thinks this is crazy?” He looked at the door furtively. “What if this is all part of some psycho lady's plan to kill a bunch of teenagers? I mean, she’s obviously well-funded. She could have hired people to chase us, or a special effects team.”

Ree shook her head. “No, Paden and I saw that creepy Dark One outside of the concert. And, I have…” She paused, struggling to admit just how crazy she was. “I've seen weird things my whole life. It got a lot worse around the time Tristan died. I just thought . . . .”

Juliette got up and went to sit next to her. “Well, now you know for sure that what you were seeing was real.” She put her arm around Ree and gave her a little shake. “And you should have told me you were dealing with that.”

Ree smiled shyly. “Yeah, well, I'm not sure it makes me feel any better to know it’s all real. I mean, I used to think people were outside of my bedroom window. Or the dark stuff I saw around Tristan before he died. The colors that flare around people at different times. And the way pictures would pop into my head when I was talking to people.”

“Holy crap, Ree. Why didn't you tell me that?” Paden was looking at her, aghast.

“Probably because I didn't want anyone to look at me like I was crazy. I figured it could all be chalked up to Tristan, and I'd end up in a psych ward somewhere.”  She looked down at her feet. “In some ways, I wish that’s all it was. I mean, being in the psych ward for a week would be a lot better than having to fight vampires.”

Juliette tightened her arm around Rees’ shoulder. “Don't think that way, Ree. We’re going to kick some vampire butt and then live it up.”

“Yeah, I'm sorry, Ree. We can handle this. I'm just being the complainer that I am.” Weylin smiled at her. “I don't know. I mean, being immortal has to have some great perks.”

“Ree.” Paden’s voice was soft.

She looked over at him, suddenly shy. She still wasn't sure what was going on with him.

“If something like that happens again, something new or something you think we should know, you have to tell us. You aren't in this by yourself. We’re all in this together,” Paden said.

“Well, you will be when Melanie gets here, anyway.” Sophie walked back through the door, closing her cell phone. “Her grandmother has already spoken to her mother. Kay isn't happy, but she is giving in to them.”

Paden asked, “So, some people do know about this stuff?”

“Yes, there are many people that have been brought into our community for one reason or another. Melanie's grandmother has provided help for some of our group before. Just like Ree started to experience symptoms of her magic, other people have a touch of the gift, as well. Elizabeth has helped those people learn their gifts.”

“Is there a directory? A secret handshake or code word?” Everyone turned to look at Weylin. “What? Shouldn't we know in case of an emergency?”

“Weylin? Be quiet.” Ree shook her head. He really was not handling this very well. His sarcastic gauge was set on high, and she would say he looked angry if she didn't know him any better. She was pretty sure that what she was witnessing was fear and frustration with no clear outlet.  “No one is really excited about any of this.”

“Sorry, I'm just freaking out a little bit, you know?” He looked down guiltily. Ree loved Weylin to death, and seeing him so upset made her heart hurt. Everyone seemed to be trying to find their footing. But maybe things didn't have to change for everyone. Maybe Weylin could avoid all of this and not be turned. She tucked that away in her mind for later. She would ask him what he wanted to do; let him make the decision.

“Don't worry. It may not seem like it now, but things will make sense eventually. And immortality really does have its advantages. Not only are you gifted with strength, speed, and eternal youth, but you're taken care of by the gods. You will never want for anything.” Sophie laid out the benefits as if she were selling a car.

“Okay, we get paid to live forever and kick vampire ass. But there’s gotta be drawbacks. What’s the downside?” Bryce had a good point.

Sophie was quiet for a minute, thinking. Ree tried to stay focused on the topic and not dwell on the fact that she wasn't immortal. That she was going to be the most likely to die during all of this. Her friends would outlive her and have lives she would never know about.

“You will live forever, if you can manage to not be injured to point that you cannot heal.” Sophie stopped and looked at each of them. “But your friends and family will not. They will all die and you will be left with nothing but memories of them.”

Everyone was incredibly quiet as that fact weighed on their shoulders. Ree stared at the ground, and was glad to know she wouldn't have to watch her friends die. When she looked up, her gaze met Paden’s. His expression was dark and full of pain. Her mouth opened just a little bit in shock and her heart skipped a beat. He didn't look away from her for a very long time. It was like he was trying to memorize everything about her. When he finally looked down at the floor, she breathed in through her nose and looked around the room.

“What about Ree?” Weylin asked. He looked like he was feeling sick. “She won't live forever. Are the gods going to take care of her as well?”

Sophie smiled at Ree. “She and her family are fully under their protection. They will never want for a thing. And if we all survive this, then she will get to lead a happy, charmed life. I've seen it happen.”

Ree smiled at them and tried to put on a brave face.

“Will we be allowed to see Ree once this is all over?” Paden asked quietly.

Sophie looked away from him but Ree saw there was something haunting her eyes. “Yes. You will have to be careful, because it is best not to arouse suspicion. Since you will not age, her family will most likely notice.”

Everyone was looking at Ree, and she felt herself blushing. She wasn't really sure what any of them were thinking, but she didn't want them dwelling on the fact that she would eventually die. After all, it could be much sooner than later, anyway.

“When is Mel going to be here?” She looked out the window and saw that the sun was getting lower in the sky. Only another couple of hours until sunset.

“I'm going to go total up the cash register and hang the closed sign. Melanie should be here soon, and I want us on the island before dusk.”