The Vampire's little Mate (Sequel)

CHAPTER: 4

The sun had decided to peek out through the clouds a little again, as it had in the morning to Tanya's dismay. But she was pleased to see the puddles were starting to dry up. The water on the asphalt in the parking lot was deeper than the morning, however, and she could feel the moisture seeping into her shoes. She was about four feet from her car before her feet were completely soaked. Her tears on the cheeks though had dried up, and she hoped no one would notice as she passed through the parking lot.

Tanya stopped abruptly when she saw the boy from the music class leaning up against her car. She gulped and cautiously walked up to him.

"What are you doing?" Tanya asked him suspiciously.

"I was waiting for you," he said simply.

As she looked him over, she noticed his pants weren't drenched from sloshing through the puddles and his feet were not soaked, unlike Tanya's. How had he managed to get through the parking lot unscathed? she wondered. Her brows furrowed. "And how did you know this was my car?" she questioned him.

"One of your friends told me," the guy said.

"Oh, really?" Tanya asked, which friend may I ask?

He paused to think as if he could not quite place the name. "A tall, blonde-haired girl."

"Kiara..." Tanya whispered.

"Ah, yes. That was it." He beamed. "She also mentioned that tomorrow is a special day for you."

"I told her not to tell anyone..."

"Why would you do that?" He seemed genuinely confused.

"I have just never liked birthdays is the reason," she muttered, eyeing him curiously. "And why in the world would she tell you, of all the people, anyway?" 

"But you are blessed with another year of life, which of course calls for a celebration." He smiled brilliantly at her and ignored her question, although there was faint sadness lingering in his eyes. He then unexpectedly said, "I want to take you somewhere if you are willing. On the other hand, perhaps I should say I would like for you to take me somewhere, I suppose."

"I don't even know you, and you want me to take you somewhere?" Tanya was bewildered and yet fascinated that this boy was even talking to her.

"We can introduce each other on the way," he suggested.

"Tanya shook her head, uncertainly. "Maybe some other time," she said.

"It has to be now," he insisted.

"Well. Give me one good reason why it has to be now?" Tanya asked him.

"There is no time like the present?" he suggested with a grin. "Tomorrow you could be gone, or I could be gone, and then we would never have this opportunity again."

"Sure," Tanya said as she took in his words. A sudden feeling of needing to do as he asked washed over her. "But I am driving," she added.

The boy eyed the car and nodded. "It is probably best that way, and as I corrected myself, I want you to take me somewhere."

"You don't know how to drive?" Tanya asked him as she unlocked the passenger side door for him.

"That is one way of putting it." He smiled slightly as he sat down.

Tanya walked over to the driver's side and climbed in. She started the ignition and glanced over at him. There was something comforting about his presence, but she couldn't quite place the reason for that. He directed her towards wherever the destination was, which gradually led them down a winding road, which made her nervous to drive on further. They passed a field of feasting cows near a small broken-down house, and then everything grew into dense forest and rock.

"Where are we going?" she asked him.

"You will see. It is just a little further," he said, gazing out of the window at the scenery, although he must have seen it many times before, Tanya assumed.

She thought for a moment about just turning around. Had she been tricked by some serial killer or r****t in her moment of vulnerability from the morning's chain of events? She glanced over at the stranger in her car for a brief second, he seemed harmless enough, sitting there with his ever smiling face. Uncertainty disappeared from her mind, and she focused back on the road and listened to the directions that he was giving her.

She became increasingly anxious once again as they rode down the twisting, thin road. The asphalt road gave way to a dirt path that went on for miles and miles. She had not noticed the turn to their left, not until he pointed it out to her. She slowly jerked the car down to the new path, and then they were soon approaching a tall, beautiful Victorian house surrounded by blossoming foliage.

"Where are we?" Tanya asked in awe.

"My home," he said pleasantly. "But before we enter, I will fulfill my promise, I made to you. My name is Alex Jackson," he said, somewhat bitterly, which she noticed.

"You don't like your name?" she asked him.

"I suppose that is what you would say," he answered. "It is somewhat contradictory."

"Contradictory to what?" she asked, confused.

"You will find out soon enough," he said. "Your name is Tanya Peter."

"I take it Kiara told you that, too, did she?" She asked with a grimace.

He ignored her question, climbed out of the car, and quickly walked to her side, opened the door, and offered her a hand.

Tanya thought for a moment before she reluctantly took his hand, barely noticing the difference in his skin's temperature. He smiled as he gracefully led her to the marble stairs. They climbed up the stairway, and she stared, mystified at the tall white doors. The windows were stained glass images of what she believed were Celtic knots in beautiful shades of blues and greens.

Alex grasped the brass door handle and swiftly opened the large doors, revealing an immaculate living area. The walls were a dull gray that perfectly contrasted the white sofa's pushed up against the walls. Behind the couch was a wide window overlooking a lake. In front of the couch lay a large black rug that covered the white marble, and atop the rug was a circular glass coffee table. Tanya was somewhat surprised as TV was not seen anywhere.

On the other side of the room was a vast bookshelf, every inch of it was crammed with books of all sizes. An armchair identical in color to the sofa sat nestled in the small nook beside the bookcase. Beside the chair was a lampstand. As Tanya was admiring the room, Alex came up behind her and grasped her shoulders. She jumped, startled by his touch, but relaxed as he spun her around towards a spiral staircase that led upstairs. It wasn't the staircase that caught her attention, rather it was but a large, black, grand piano, that sat to the right of the staircase. 

"It is very beautiful..." Tanya whispered. "Is your family rich or something?"

"What?" He looked shocked at her assumption, but then his expression turned soft, and he smiled as he seemed to do more often. "I don't live with my family."

"Then you are rich?" She questioned, staring at him in awe.

"Not at all," Alex answered her.

"Then how do you afford to live here?" she questioned him.

"You will find out soon enough," was all he said. He then turned towards the kitchen, waving her to follow.

Mahogany cabinets lined the walls, and the kitchen had a black refrigerator and a stove. A small dining table was set against a broad window. The curtains were drawn, but the room was still bright despite there being no lights on.

After she allowed herself to admire the house, she realized how soaked her feet still were. "Do you care if I take them off?" She asked shyly.

"Of course not."

She walked to the front door, cringing with each step as the water sloshed around in her shoes. She opened the doors and knelt down to untie the moist laces. At that moment she looked up and contemplated just running to her car and leaving this place behind for good as the sense of comfort and need to be here seemed to wash away.