Vampire Queen

Chapter 4: Ava

          I had no sleep last night because I was struggling with the day I was going to face. Again, I thought Jade and James were lucky to have their lives chosen for them. Right now, I was in the back seat of James’s car fidgeting with my hands, rolling my thumbs around while I was preparing myself for the orientations today. I was going to attend retail in the morning, and construction in the afternoon. I was planning on inviting Jade with me to the retail orientation and take advantage of her Queen duties and claim I needed my future Queen for support.

            “Ava, can you hear me?” I looked up from my hands and saw Jade staring at me.

            “I’m sorry, what?”

            “I was trying to tell you that I have decided to appoint you as my second.” Jade told me with a huge smile plastered on her face.

            “What do you mean by your second?”

            “You get to be by my side like Chase will be by James’s side, which means you get to study what I study!”

            “You mean I don’t have to go to these other orientations this week?” I felt hope raise a little bit in my heart at the thought of not going through all the torment of listening to people talk about things I’m not even interested in.

            “Exactly! Starting today, you are in royal training with me, James, and Chase. Starting next week, it will be you and Chase in that class obviously, and once you turn 18, you will continue with me in our own training.”

            “I have to be alone with Chase, are you sure about this?” I asked hesitantly. I like the idea of royal training, it was the only thing that even made adult life exciting, no other jobs have held my interest, but learning with Chase was not really what I wanted.

            James chuckled and said, “He isn’t that bad Ava, give him a chance.”

            “I have given him chances, and he is always jerk.” I pointed out.

            “He’s different when he’s in work mode. He isn’t always flirting with girls and getting into trouble.” James frowns at me. From the rear-view mirror, I could see his bottom lip jut out in a pout. Was he actually trying to pout to get his way? “Give him a chance, please?”

            I sat in silence for a moment to think it over. If this was the only way to help Jade, and to get out of going to all these other stupid orientations, I will do it. Although, I wanted James to wait for my answer a little longer. He kept looking at me in the mirror and I could see him getting impatient. Jade knew my answer already, so she wasn’t fazed by my silence.

            By the time we got to school, James was starting to snarl at me. I got out of the car and walked past him a little faster than normal. Jade had to go to the office and make sure my new arrangements were met, so we parted ways at our lockers. I felt him walking towards me before he reached me and forced me to turn around. He was still slightly snarling, but he didn’t scare me. Everyone around us was trying to avoid us like the plague. Why was James acting like this?

            “Can I help you sire?” I asked him innocently.

            “I’m waiting for you response Ava,” he said through gritted teeth. “Will you attend the royal training with Chase, or not?”

            “If I wasn’t going to, do you think Jade would be at the office right now, or would she be here trying to convince me to take the job?” I pointed out to him with a raised brow.

            He back up; I didn’t realize how close he got to me before now. There was a smile forming on his face, “you’ll do it?” I nodded to him and couldn’t help the smile that crossed my face. We heard Chase call his name, James started to back away slowly. He brushed his hand against mine before walking away to him. The moment his hand touched mine, I felt that static shock again.

*James*

            I couldn’t help myself when I was going to walk away from Ava, I had to touch her hand again to make sure that spark was still there. I knew she felt it too because I kept eye contact with her and knew she couldn’t blame it on a static shock this time. As a vampire, our heart beats a little faster than humans, but when our skin touched, my heart raced much faster. She tried to control her emotions, but I saw her eyes sparkle when we touched, I knew more than anything in that moment, she was the one for me.

            Chase was waiting for me at the end of the hall. He raised one of his brows at me when he saw the smile on my face. “Everything good?” he asks.

            “Ava will be joining our royal training group this week.” I told him. Since he knew of the possibility of Ava being my mate, I could talk freely with him and told him what my parents and I talked about last night, and the plan my mom came up with so she can start her training without giving away too much about us being mates.

            “That’s great buddy!” Chase sounded happy for me. “I’ll make sure no one messes with her when you leave. You know I’ll protect her knowing she’s your future Queen.”

            “Thanks man, that means a lot to me. Remember, she won’t know that I’m her mate until her birthday though, so we have to keep her thinking she will be Jade’s second. Even Jade has no idea what’s really happening.” I looked him in the eyes and made it clear that I was being serious. He nodded his head and we walked towards our classroom.

            When we reached the classroom, there were four desks set up next to each other. Chase grabbed the one on the end farthest from the door, and I grabbed the one next him. I couldn’t help but hope that Ava will take the seat next to me which leaves Jade on the other end. Once Ava becomes Queen, Jade will actually be her second most likely. Before I could say anything to Chase, the girls walk in, Jade in the lead. I watched as she took the seat on the end and Ava sat down next to me; we kept eye contact as she sat, and her cheeks turned pink. She gave me a small smile and turned back to Jade. This was going to be a good week.

*Ava*

            Sitting next to James in class was great. Every move he made, I sensed it. I tried my best to not look at him too often, mostly because I could feel him looking at me. The week went by fast, and I was learning how to act properly while being in the royal household. I have been over there many times, but soon I will be there for work, and my behaviour will have to change drastically. Our main focus was on manners and how to present ourselves.

            Before you know it, the school week was over, and it was time to prepare for the birthday party. After school on Friday, I went home with Jade and James. Karter and Jessica were going to show up later when the party started. Karter was thrilled when I told him that I was going to be the Queen’s second, specially when I told him I was actually happy about this career. Jessica was beyond excited by the news, she knew about my crush on James, so we talked about how much time I was going to spend with him during class. I told her about all the looks he would give me when I walked into the room, or if he walked into the room after me. She claims that he likes me as well, but I kept telling her she was wrong. He probably sees me as his sisters annoying friend who tags around everywhere.

            The party is set to start at midnight when they officially become full adult vampires. Jade decided it would be better for me to go over right after school instead so we could help with any last-minute decorations. It was time for me to start putting my lessons to the test.

            “Ava, it is so good to see you!”

             “Lilith!” I ran to give her a big hug. After my parents passed, Lilith was always there for me when I needed a mother figure in my life, Clifford was there for me too. We both squeezed each other, and she was crushing me, but I didn’t care. I needed a motherly hug after the week I had.

                “Mom, you’re going crush her!” Jade came to try and pull us apart.

                “Oh, I’m sorry sweetheart.” She tells me while pulling away.

                “I don’t mind,” I respond with a smile. “It’s been too long since I’ve been by and that hug was necessary.”

                She smiled at me than gave her children each a kiss before excusing herself to go finish with the preparations. Jade pulls me towards her room upstairs and I could feel James watching me as I go, my body shivered as I felt his eyes following my every move. What was going on with him? He never paid this much attention to me before.

                We got to Jade’s room and I immediately see the most beautiful party dress hanging up near her closet. “That’s your dress for tonight.” Turning to look at my best friend, my mouth dropped. “I guess you like it?” She asks me and I nod. She knew me all too well to have picked this for me, I normally would not worry about spending money on something so expensive, but she loved to spoil me whenever she was allowed.

                 It was still hours until the party would start, and we were told our help wasn’t needed so we stayed in her room while most of the coven was still sleeping, or getting the castle decorated. We watched some movies while we waited. It was hard to decide who got to pick the movies, because our tastes were so different, she like the mushy romance stuff, and I liked action. I didn’t mind romance movies every so often, but it had to be the right moment for them. We compromised and decided to stick with Disney. You could never go wrong with childhood favorites. We just finished watching Cinderella when an alarm went off which told us it was time to get ready. For once, I was excited to get dressed up.

            Jade had a shower first while I texted my brother to make sure he was awake and getting ready, once he responded that he was, I told him to show up a little before the party to make sure we got a good table close to the front where Jade and James would be sitting. Jade had a quick shower and was heading to her closet already. That was my cue to head in now. The warm water was nice on my skin, I hadn’t realized I was so tense. I washed my hair and after rinsing, I just let the water pour over me. It felt like rain falling on my face. There was a knock on the door, which meant it was time to get dressed. Turning the water off, I get out and quickly dry myself off. I wrap the towel around me and go back into the room.

            “I put your dress in the closet for you, got get changed than I will do your make-up.” Jade was already dressed in her signature blue. This dress wasn’t just blue though, it was blue, white, and black swirled. There was bluer and whiter than black, so it made her eyes pop more than ever. I walk into the closet while she sat at her vanity to start her make-up.

            My dress was there right in front of me. I got dressed and stood looking in the mirror longer than necessary knowing Jade would need some time with her face. My dress was like Jades, but red instead of blue. Mine was halter top style, while hers was strapless. Eventually I left the closet and went out to wait my turn in front of the vanity. Jade was already finished, she kept it light and natural, except for a thin layer of blue eyeliner that matches her dress. She points to the vanity stool letting me know it was my turn. Just like her, she gives me a natural look except a heavy layer of black eyeliner, we both weren’t big on looking like clowns unlike most of the girls our age. Once my make-up was done, she starts to brush through my hair and dries it the best she can before taking the flat iron to it. Jade decided to let her hair air dry and go with her natural brown curls tonight which framed her face perfectly.

            “You look beautiful babe,” Jade tells me. “All the single guys will beg for your attention.”

               “They won’t be looking at me when they see you standing next to me.” I tell her with a smile on my face. She leans down and gives me a hug. “Thank you for this Jade, I surprisingly don’t hate the way I look right now.”

                “Seriously, you’ll be the belle of the ball tonight.” She winks at me and bends down to pick something up, then she gives me a pair of black heels, I lift my brow at her, “these are your shoes for tonight.” I shake my head immediately. She just nods at me while I continue to shake.

                “I will not embarrass myself at your party Jade, there’s no way I am wearing those!” She grumbles and put those down and brings up a pair of red and black checkered flats for me instead. “Much better, thank you.” I turn to give her a quick kiss on the check before putting them on my feet. These shoes definitely made me feel better. Jade put on her heels and we left her room.

                We walked in silence and went downstairs; I notice Chase was already there standing in the lobby talking to James. The four of us were supposed to greet the guests as they arrived. Chase looked up when he noticed us, and he couldn’t take his eyes off of Jade, I might have to see what that’s all about next week when it’s the two of us in class. Noticing the look on Chase’s face, James turned around and I watched as his eyes start at my feet and moved their way up my body and landed on my eyes. We reached the bottom and stood next to them.

                “Ladies, you look gorgeous,” Chase tells us.

                “Thanks buddy.” Jades responds, “you both look pretty handsome yourselves.” I couldn’t help but notice the flicker of hurt in Chase’s eyes when Jade called him buddy, and I immediately felt sorry for him.

                I can feel James’s eyes still on me and it was making me feel uncomfortable. “Excuse me a moment, I want to see if Karter and Jess made it over it yet.” I started walking towards the kitchen knowing that is where Jess would go first to try and help out. Before I could get there, someone grabbed my arm and pulled me into the room I just passed. I was about to scream until I felt that static shock feeling, it was going up my entire arm because it wasn’t a small touch like the other times.

                We were in the library, and he was looking at me with such confusion in his eyes, I had no idea what was going on. “Why did you bring me in here James?” There was silence on his end for a while and he started to pace back forth in front of me. After a few minutes I was getting impatient and turned to leave. He then grabbed me to turn me around, his face was so close to mine, my breathing turned heavy just like his. He kept looking between my eyes and my lips. Please kiss me, was all I kept thinking. Almost like he could read my mind, he placed one hand on the back of my neck, and the other held my face in place. He leaned in and I closed my eyes, I felt his lips touch mine, it was a soft kiss at first, probably meant to be sweet and innocent. Next thing I knew, he deepens the kiss. I lifted my arms and wrapped them around his neck. My first kiss, and it was with the guy I loved more than anything.

                After a few minutes he pulled away and put his forehead against mine. My body felt like I was struck by lightening, it was the best feeling. We stood there catching our breath and I had to ask him, “what was that for?”

                He stood back and looked into my eyes. “I had to in case I don’t have the chance after tonight.” With that, he let me go and walked past me to leave the room. He thinks he might find his mate, so he wanted to kiss me before that happened. When this kiss happened, I was thrilled, but now I feel pain, knowing that I will never have this experience again.