NEW TIDE
She woke up the next morning happy, her whole body relaxed. How could she not be the night was perfect, more than she had ever hoped for. Stephan had been gentle and considerate with her. Although he didn’t seem pleased when he realized she had kept her virginity a secret, he understood. It was too late to turn back at that moment.
Stephan held her in his arms his finger running up and down her spine. If only they could stay like this forever. He loved the feel of her in his arms he always had, but this morning was different. He was able to control himself and didn’t hurt her like he thought he would, he had made sure to check her body for bruises while she slept.
When she stirred in his arms he knew she was awake, but didn’t want to rush her. He tightened his hold around her, bringing her closer to him. He began planting kisses on her arms and fingers, and when she began giggling he pulled her on top of him.
“Beautiful. It’s time to wake up, I think you have dreamed enough for a lifetime.” He used his fingers to comb through her ruffled hair. She lifted her head to look into his eyes. She kissed him ever so lightly it was like a feather’s touch. He had to pull her back when she started nuzzling his neck. There was only so much he could handle.
“I called Vincent and told him to cover you for a while, any longer than that and he will be picking up your paycheck.” He laughed when she groaned, his whole body vibrated with his laughter. She laid her head back on his chest to snuggle.
“Babe is there something wrong with your heart.”
Stephan pulled her off him, he had made a mistake and how was he supposed to explain this to her. His heart barely beat because the vampire’s hearts didn’t beat and the beast’s heart raced. And he was right down to the middle, so his heart skipped.
“It may be because you are lying next to me naked, so it’s reacting to your beauty.” It was the lamest thing he had ever said, but it would have to do. He got off the bed and tossed her nightgown at her. He already had his jeans on, he left the room he didn’t want to risk her noticing anything else not human about him.
She came downstairs half an hour later with his T-Shirt in one hand and her purse in the other. He was reading the paper on the kitchen counter, there were also two cups of freshly brewed coffee on the table. He didn’t favor the stuff much but had to keep up with appearances.
“Sweetie, I thought you would need this. The last thing we need is my neighbors going crazy over that body of yours.” She tossed the shirt to him, with a smile on her face. He was beautiful, he always turned a couple of heads whenever he went out. But they didn’t matter to him only she did.
She picked up her coffee and drunk it while she sorted the house out. She hated any mess of any kind. He often wondered why she would pick one of the most disorderly people he knew to live with. As soon as she was done they were out the door. Although she saw did this every day of her life, today she felt that the sun was brighter and the day felt alive to her.
They got into the car and as soon as they were on their way he brought up the previous night. “Scarlet, why didn’t you tell me that you were a virgin?”
Her face mottled with color because of embarrassment.
“Because I knew you would back out if I did.” She stroked his cheek and kissed his hand, she was going to use her advantage to get out of this one. He knew what she was doing, he couldn’t be angry with her when she was being affectionate. She had that power over him and she knew it and wasn’t afraid to use it.
“You should not have kept it from me I could have hurt you. But I guess it’s fine.” he laughed at himself more than anything else, he had been defeated by a single kiss.
Scarlet couldn’t remember any pain from it, all she could feel was pleasure and happiness. All she wanted at that time was for him to holder tighter. She was happy and nothing else had mattered to her.
When they got to the diner, Solara was at his usual table alone, Vincent had an apron on and was bussing tables, and Kayla was having a not so polite conversation with one of the customers. At times he felt that Solara enabled her rudeness by sitting at the diner.
Solara was a big guy but not bigger than some of the men that came into the diner, but he had one of those looks that made many men think twice about facing him. When it came to Kayla he was worse, she was his just like Scarlet was Stephan’s and he would do anything for her, even if it meant being a bully for her.
“So how did it go, any animal sightings?” Solara was being his usual annoying self this morning.
“She is walking so that’s a good sign. At least we know every part of her is intact, no broken bones.”
Strangely enough, his jeering didn’t have its usual effect on him, nothing could anger him this morning. He saw Vincent turn in his apron to scarlet he seemed glad to be released of the duty, but some of the young ladies weren’t so pleased. He sat in a chair next to Stephan and eyed him curiously.
“You look extremely pleased with yourself big guy. I take all went well.” He was chuckling again and wasn’t subtle about it.
“You know I could break you in half for that but I don’t want to ruin my good mood.” Although the jokes didn’t bother him, he wasn’t going to entertain them for Scarlet’s sake. He knew she would only get embarrassed if she heard what he was saying.
“Vincent I want to ask you about a very sensitive matter. I know you would rather not talk about it, but we need to know what we are dealing with.” Stephan needed to know about Victor and how deep his animosity ran. If he leads the hunting party, he wanted to know what his reaction could be towards the two human girls and the other humans around them.
“Would he hurt you intentionally to spite you? Are you on good terms, and most importantly, does he deal with things directly or indirectly?” Vincent understood what he meant by that. His brother was not the kind to use other people to obtain his objectives. He would not hurt the people he cared for, human or otherwise.
“I made sure he understands the choice I was making, and yes he is ruthless but he does not cut corners. If he wants something he goes for it directly. He does not believe in threats or final warnings and he wouldn’t hurt me intentionally. He is my brother, but as for now I can’t say for sure what he is.” He couldn’t confirm that Victor hadn’t changed, he could only hope he was still the same.
Stephan was tossing the possible outcomes in his head, none of them had a happy ending. He would have to tell Scarlet everything before anything happened. He wondered if Solara had any intentions to tell Kayla. Maybe they could do it together at the same time. It seemed more comforting having him there facing the same thing. Knowing Solara he would find a way around it, come out of all of it still intact. There was something very cunning about him, he had the charm to make any woman see things his way no matter how idiotic it was.
***
Earlier that week Scarlet had gotten a letter from the university informing her of the response the department had gotten on her behalf. It was concerning her application from the George Washington State Hospital psychiatric Department.
She had to go for an interview before any other steps were taken to confirm her fellowship. Scarlet was happy because she knew that she was being considered. They only invited shortlisted candidates for interviews. GWH was one of the best hospitals in the state and they required the best. She would have to do her best to impress the panel if she hoped to get in.
“How about Vincent goes with her, she will be safe.” He was giving Stephan the ‘protection detail’ pitch. He thought he could get him to see how much safer Scarlet would be with a vampire instead of a human.
First, the suggestion of a vampire being her (a human someone he could feed on) only contact ridiculous. He trusted Vincent but the idea didn’t sit well with him. Secondly, Vincent’s scent had already caused them enough problems. He didn’t want anyone tracking it assumes that he was with Stephan and finding Scarlet instead. He would take his chances with the two humans going alone. No one threatening knew they were connected to him so they would be safer together away from him.
He also needed the two vampires with him, he wanted them to take him to the defectors they had gone to meet. He had to convince them to join him somehow. They all needed each other he needed them more. In the event, the hunters came knocking and they were more than the three of them could handle they would come in handy. He knew he would have to offer them something in turn but was not sure what.
“No Solara they will only be gone for the weekend. Three days, before you know it, it’s Sunday and they are here.”
Stephan held Scarlet as tightly as he could take all that he could to last him through the next three days. “I love you.” He whispered in her ear before he let go.
It was cute how pathetic he looked, looking for someone else to escort Scarlet to Washington. There was no doubt that if they were at the diner he would have asked Marcie or one of the other waitresses, or one of the customers.
Stephan placed his hand on Solara’s shoulder as they waved goodbye, once the girls had disappeared into the crowds of people at the airport. “If you were human or if I was sure it would have an effect on you I would have recommended alcohol.” He patted his back and walked to the car laughing.
Vincent was already in the back seat, his head lowered to his knees. “And what’s your problem.” He sat in the driver’s seat and watched him through the rear-view mirror. “Oh come on not you too.” He chuckled and started the car.
He loved the sound of the engine coming to life. He had put a whole lot of work into the car it was his pride and joy. Solara got into the car his expression hadn’t changed.
“Hey, can you and your girlfriend sulk somewhere else.” Stephan used his head to point in Vincent’s direction, whose head was still on his knees.
“I don’t know what you are sad about. Vincent none of those two girls is your girlfriend. Solara man up, Kayla isn’t the one going for a job interview in Washington, Scarlet is.” He shook his head in amusement before he sped away from the airport.
It felt good to drive his car as fast as he wanted. None of the occupants in the car was easily harmed. He listened to the roar of the engine as he increased his speed. He weaved through traffic with ease, speeding through traffic lights just as they turned red. Speed gave him a rush.
“So Vincent if you are up for it I was thinking we should visit your friends. I thought we could try and strike a deal with them. A partnership of some sort.”
“I don’t think they will agree to that. You are not so popular with them. Besides who wants to go to San Jose now.” Vincent had stopped sulking.
Stephan’s intention of going to the vampires wasn’t a good one. He wasn’t a coward but he was interested in self-preservation and walking in there with Stephan was hazardous to anyone’s health. Solara chuckled under his breath. Unlike Stephan, he had an all-access pass into Vincent’s head. He was right about all of it Stephan attracted trouble from all the creatures of the world. Now it was the vampires and the beasts hungry for the power he had.
“Vincent I wasn’t asking you.” Stephan hated being a bully but at this time he needed to use his power as leverage. This was something that had to be done. If he could get all the vampires in the Bay Area on his side, he would feel a bit more confident if he had to stand against the Conselho.
“Sure why not.” Vincent’s tone sounded defeated. What choice did he have? As much as Stephan posed a threat to his immortality he was also the best chance he had for surviving this problem.
It was noon and the sun stood at its highest. . The sunlight was streaming in through the clear windows, and Vincent sat his body against the door. Stephan looked at the mirror so that he could be able to see Vincent’s expression. He hoped that he had not offended him. He still looked a bit down as if he was yearning for something. As he lowered his head from the mirror he caught a glimpse of something else. Marks were forming on his neck they seemed to come from his chest or somewhere hidden by his shirt. He pulled the car over to the side, they were almost home but he didn’t want to risk it.
“Vincent take off your shirt.” He could see him hesitate and his patience ran out. “Vincent now!”
As he pulled his shirt over his head more tattoos formed on his arms, they had covered most of his chest and were traveling up his neck. Wherever the sun hit more would form. Soon they would cover his face and the monster in him would be released. Vincent had gone for weeks without a drop of human blood and now it showed.
He watched as the tattoos spread through his body, he knew his eyes would be next. He had to get some blood in his system or sit somewhere there was no light. That was not possible considering there was no room to hide in the mustang. He would have to sink into the seat so that the other drives wouldn’t catch a glimpse of him.
“Solara how did you miss this. Didn’t you hear him thinking about his thirst?” Stephan turned on Solara, he had the power to see everything they thought but how did he miss this.
“Stephan I don’t spend all my time with him, I was with Kayla the whole day and besides he is an adult. He is more than an adult he should take responsibility for himself.” Although he was mad he also couldn’t believe how he missed it.
This was dangerous especially since he had let him sit in the back with the girls. How did he bear to be sandwiched between them and not attack them? Solara admired his restraint but was disappointed by his carelessness.
“I kept thinking that I could hold it for a while. I was planning to hit the blood bank tonight before going out hunting.” He was being honest he didn’t want to miss Kayla and Scarlet when they left. He was every bit attached to them as they were.
“Fine. Tonight we all feed. We’ll go to San Jose after we are done.” It was a good idea, they all needed to feed.
Tonight was a good a time as any, they had time to feed and visit the hunters. The girls were gone for three days so there would be no distractions. That night they hit a blood blank and took a pint each, it was more than they needed but they thought they needed the extra boost. They were able to run to Langunita-Knolls forest it was far enough but not too far to take time.