Scarlet had never thought of Vincent in this role before. He looked so grown up when he talked about them fighting. She wondered how he managed to switch from comedian to a combatant in the same breath.
Scarlet knew they were all nervous because of her, at that second she didn’t think immortality was a bad thing. She would be able to hold her weight, but she had to deal with them planning this around her to accommodate her.
“I think Vincent’s plan is the plan. I will take Scarlet with me when the time comes and you boys can do what you do best. Is that ok with everyone?” They all nodded in unison.
Scarlet couldn’t help but notice that her friend was part of their world and had taken to it without hesitation. She hoped that she still could exist in her world with her. She tugged on her arm and set herself free from Stephan’s hold. Now seemed like a good a time as any to talk to her. They had sorted the hunters’ situation at least the part that concerned them, they would let the boys plan the combat part of it.
They went into her room and hopped on the bed. Scarlet hoped that they had some privacy, she didn’t need Stephan to think she was about to leave him especially now that he needed to focus on the battle.
“I need to talk to you about all this. You can’t tell Solara about this and by telling mental communication is included.” She eased back on the headboard before she spoke, “What do you think about all of it. Their crazy pasts, people trying to kill them, and most of all what Solara did to you. We never got a chance to talk about this, so I need you to honestly answer me. It’s just you and me in here.”
“It’s crazy intense, I must admit all this scares me stiff but it’s my life now. My life is with Solara and I will be by his side forever now. I was not all too happy when I woke up to being a creature and not a person.” her shoulders drooped, she was not sure of her new life.
“But Stephan and Solara explained it to me. And the only reason he did it is that he loves me. How can I hold that against him? Why what are you thinking Scar?” She could sense this was more than the impromptu transformation.
“Solara also can’t have kids, vampires are sterile. So it’s not like he’s going to run off and make babies, we are together in this. Besides I don’t think I would want children that weren’t Solara’s.” She was convinced of this and nothing would change her mind.
“Do you know what this means now? There is nothing else for you, no job at the Washington Daily, no kids, and this life of forever wondering what’s going to jump out of the bushes. I don’t think I can live my life like this.” She had thought about it for a while now and saying it out loud convinced her more and more that this was not the life for her.
“You can’t be serious.” Kayla had taken the liberty to peer into her mind. She thought she would get what she needed a lot faster that way and she had. “So you are going to wait until all this is over then ditch him and skip town. Classy that’s real classy Scarlet Mc Kyle. You surprise me.” She was on her feet pacing around the room, she was shaking her head thinking of something that Scarlet could only imagine. She would have to wait for her to give an opening to her mind.
You are going to crush him
She was still pacing around the room, Scarlet waited for her to walk up the wall. One thing she did not miss was the look of disappointment on her face. This sent a wave of guilt over her, here he was risking his life to protect her. Although he was the reason she was in this danger, technically they didn’t know about her and maybe she could slip away before they knew she existed.
This was not the life that she had wanted for herself. But she hadn’t made a decision yet, she still had time to think about it. She would decide after the threat had passed.
“Don’t you think I want to tear Solara’s head off for doing this to me? But what good would it do if I did? There is no turning back for me now, the only other alternative is dying. Am not ready to give him up, call me I but am glad he made this choice because now time can never hinder us. I can do everything I want to because my lease on this earth has just been extended.”
Kayla stormed out of the room leaving her alone with her thoughts. She knew how she looked in her eyes an ungrateful traitor. But she hadn’t decided yet and she wouldn’t not now there were too many other things to factor in.
Stephan walked into the room a few minutes after Kayla had left. He was worried, he always seemed worried these days. She stared up at the ceiling the last thing she needed was to look into his eyes. She wouldn’t be able to take the guilt. She closed her eyes when he lay on the bed next to her. He immediately gathered her in his arms and kissed her forehead.
“You don’t have to be scared. I will make sure you are safe.” He was trying to reassure her.
“I know. I am not worried about that.” Scarlet honestly wasn’t worried about the danger lurking ahead. She was worried about the kind of life she would have with him. “Stephan there are some things that we need to talk about. I…”
The shrill ring of the phone distracted her from what she was saying. Kayla answered the phone and from the tone in her voice, she guessed it was a formal call. She listened for a while waiting to hear what it was about.
Seconds later there was a knock on her door. Kayla stretched to hand her the phone not making eye contact with her.
Scarlet took the phone and spoke into it. It was the dean of medicine at GWH informing her of the status of her fellowship. Excitement lit up on her face and as soon as she disconnected the phone she was bouncing on her bed.
Stephan and Kayla watched her they were happy for her although they didn’t know why. Scarlet was now lying on the bed kicking her feet up squealing.
“What!” Kayla jumped on the bed beside her, making the double bed crowded for all three of them.
Scarlet was still squealing and what she was bubbling was incomprehensive. Kayla gave up on the word of mouth communication and decided to break her promise. She read Scarlet’s mind and found out the good news. She had been accepted for the fellowship and was to start in two months.
Kayla dragged her off the bed and they both began jumping up and down. Stephan watched bewildered at how ridiculous they looked, trying to have a conversation while bouncing about.
The girls’ noise could be heard all over the house and soon Solara and Vincent went upstairs to find out what the commotion was about.
“What’s going on?” Solara was the first to ask. Vincent didn’t bother to find out what the news was about. He was drawn to a happy situation and joined the girls in their excitement. The three of them joined hands and bounced around in a circle.
“Solara, could you please tell me what’s going on.” Stephan hadn’t attempted to ask any of the girls what the phone call was about. He knew it would be useless trying to talk to them.
After a second of concentration Solara stepped next to him to answer. “She got the fellowship at GWH, and it starts in two months.” Solara couldn’t help but join the happy parade. He knew it was Scarlet’s dream, Kayla had informed him of all the plans they had together.
Stephan wasn’t sure how to feel. Sure he was happy that she had finally gotten what she had worked hard for, but that would also mean she would have to leave. He didn’t want to be selfish, but he knew it would be best for her. She had those ambitions before meeting him, and so far he had turned her world upside down. He wasn’t going to take this away from her.
He broke into the circle and pulled Scarlet into his arms. “Congratulations honey.” He whispered in her ear before pushing her chin up with his finger so that he could kiss her.
“Thanks.” She was happy that finally, she had good news. She couldn’t remember the last time she looked forward to another day knowing that nothing could go wrong. Now she had finally caught a break and in two months she would start a new chapter in her life. The only thing she wasn’t sure about was the role Stephan would play in it.
She convinced herself to push all the tough decisions out of her head. She was going to celebrate this moment with her new family. The five of them were going to take the moment to enjoy themselves not thinking about hunters, feuds, beasts, or vampires.
Kayla ran out of the room and was back in the same second. She came back with a dusty bottle of champagne. “Scar, do you remember when we scrapped up our cash to buy this. It was for when our lives finally got on track. Well, it’s that moment.” Her eyebrows were dancing up and down as she spoke.
Scarlet did remember that day. Although she didn’t think it was the right time to drink it. It was for when they both got what they wanted. Technically Kayla had gotten her fellowship but it had been suspended, but now she wasn’t going to be able to do it. Her life had taken a drastic change in events.
She couldn’t bring herself to refuse. She was going to celebrate. It had been a good day. She got her friend back and her fellowship those were reasons enough to be thankful for.
“I’m so happy you are a vampire because that means I get to drink it alone.” She snatched the bottle out of Kayla’s hand and bolted down the stairs.
She only realized her efforts were useless when in one fluid movement, Kayla was already downstairs, and she took the bottle from her hand, opened it, and was pouring it into five glasses. The guys followed behind chuckling.
Scarlet wasn’t sure what amused them most her attempt to outrun a vampire or the fact she thought she had her beat. They all gathered around the kitchen counter, staring at Kayla questioningly.
“Babe, you do know that Scarlet doesn’t need all those glasses. She could use one and top it up when she wants to.” He had his arm around Kayla.
“I know we are all going to join her. This is a big moment for her and we are going to support her.” She pushed a glass to each of them, staring them down so that they drank it.
Stephan was the first to pick up his glass and handed Scarlet hers. “I’m in. Scarlet has done a great job and I am happy to celebrate it with her.”
Vincent was peeping into the glass with one eye, inspecting the contents with a wrinkled nose, when Kayla slapped the back of his head.
“Pick it up, Vincent.” She had that no-nonsense tone in her voice.
Scarlet laughed she was glad to see that she hadn’t changed at all although she was now a different species. “K, don’t bully them they don’t have to drink it if they don’t have to. It’s the thought that counts.”
“Kayla you see, Scarlet understands.” Solara took advantage of Scarlet letting them off the hook. He wasn’t too willing to pour the tasteless liquid down his throat.
Now.
Kayla knew that only Vincent and Solara would hear her, she was able to direct her gift to the person she wanted to hear her. The two men looked up at her then at each other. They gave up and picked up their glasses.
“To Scarlet my best friend. Congratulations.” With that short speech, Kayla threw the champagne in her mouth and swallowed. She opened her eyes to find everyone else except Vincent had drunk.
He was still thinking about whether or not he should drink it when Kayla’s slit stare helped him with the decision. “Scarlet when I do something great, you better be prepared to drink a pint of blood.” He then quickly drunk it and slammed the glass on the table.
“The things I do for these women…” Vincent walked away mumbling to himself.
Stephan pulled her into his arms again. He loved holding her like this it was the only way he knew she was there with him. They would have to talk about what was to happen. He knew that Scarlet would go to Washington in two months. He needed to know what was to happen after that.
His grip around her waist tightened when Kayla came to take her from him. He hadn’t had enough of the warmth her body gave him, but he released her. A tag of war between him and Kayla would only hurt Scarlet physically. They would each end up with half of her.
Solara came up to him and put his hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry about it I’m sure you guys will figure something out. Look at it this way she will be safe in Washington while we figure this mess out. Until then we protect her.”
Stephan agreed with his theory, but to him, Scarlet would only be safe when he was there to protect her. For a human, many things could endanger her life. “I hope so let’s get back to planning.”
***
Kayla and Scarlet were in her room again. This time they were chatting about their past and what pains they had to go through for this day to come.
“Kayla I wish that you could still get to do what you want. It doesn’t feel complete with just me getting the dream.” That part did sadden her but there was nothing she could do about it.
“Scarlet I know you don’t see it but I am happy. This is my life and I am going to live it to the fullest.” She nudged her friend’s shoulder. “I can do whatever I want now. I don’t have an expiry date remember.” They were both laughing now.
“Oh Please! If you were stuck on eighteen I would be jealous. But you are twenty-three and still a year older than me. You never know… if Stephan and I are still together I might… I might join the club.” She had thought about it several times. She had two paths to take now and she wasn’t sure which one was the best for her.
“You need to think about it. Decide what’s best for you.” Kayla felt guilty for judging her. She was never given that choice so she skipped the hard part. “I never got the chance to make such a big decision. I’m very glad about that because I don’t know what choice I would have made.”
“But you should have been allowed to decide K. It’s not fair at all.” She weaved her fingers into her curly hair. She wanted to look into Kayla’s brown eyes. She was glad she hadn’t lost that she thought that it would take the strange amber of Solara’s eyes. Or even worse they would be different colors just like Vincent. One blue and one green, it was strange but she never thought of asking him about it.
“I know you said that you are happy. You should be any way you just cheated time. No wrinkles or cellulite in your future.”
“Thank heavens.” They were bowling in laughter again. Scarlet realized how much she had missed her friend the past few weeks. Now she had to make a decision that would also affect her.