Bridgeport, Six Months Ago
Eve woke to find Christine’s place in bed empty. There was only Isobel. Thankfully, none of them were frogs – she hoped.
Eve: Is, are you asleep?
Isobel: Yes.
Eve: Where’s Christine?
Isobel: I don’t know, I’m asleep.
Eve got out of bed and went downstairs, looking for Christine. She was nowhere to be found, not the kitchen nor the living room nor the library. Eve was about to give up, until she heard voices, coming from outside.
Christine: You shouldn’t be here.
Josh: I couldn’t stay away. Christine, what are we going to do?
Christine: I don’t know. She saw the rose you sent me and said she hopes my mystery boyfriend makes me as happy as you make her. How was I supposed to tell her it’s you?
Josh: We have to figure something out. I can’t keep going on like this, not touching you, not holding you, not telling you how much I love you.
Christine: I know, this isn’t any easier on me. I love you and all I want is to be able to make love to you like we do without this cloud of guilt hanging over me. But, I don’t want to hurt her.
Josh: I think she’ll understand.
Christine: Have you met her? Eve doesn’t understand things like this. She doesn’t stand for people taking what she believes belongs to her.
Josh: I won’t let her hurt you. You know I would die to protect you.
Eve listened on as they professed their undying love, her heart breaking a little more with each word.
Bridgeport, Present Day
Isobel appeared on Level 7. Her heart was thumping a million miles per second. Okay, it wasn’t, on account of her being dead. But, if she were alive, it would’ve been.
She looked around, wishing she knew how to get out of this place, when suddenly she heard a voice, calling her towards the only occupied cell.
Josh: Isobel! What – how –
Isobel: We thought you were dead!
Josh: I am dead.
Isobel: Oh. Me, too.
Josh: And, you can teleport?
Isobel: Can’t you?
Josh: No. Listen to me, we have to get out of here. Eve’s dad, he’s psychotic.
Isobel: I know. He tried to kill me. Re-kill … you know what I mean. How do I get you out of here?
Josh: There’s a digital lock on the door. I think the code is Eve’s birthday.
Isobel punched the numbers in – 1123 – and the door buzzed opened.
Josh: Can you teleport two?
Isobel: I don’t even know how I’m teleporting one!
Josh: Please, try. We have to warn Eve about her dad and I need to get back to Christine.
If Isobel had any reservations, they faded when the elevator doors opened and Gabriel came out. He screamed for her to stop, but it was too late. Isobel grabbed Josh’s hand, concentrated on anywhere but there and they disappeared into thin air.
Gabriel: NO!
In a chateau just north of Bridgeport, Eve Wellington took a bath. It’d taken Fields hours to come in and unlock the wash closet door and, though she was furious with Will for his behavior, she’d grown bored and decided to go to second base with him. What else was she going to do in there? The laundry? Now, she washed Will germs off of her.
Outside, she heard Will talking to someone – a woman someone.
Will: Didn’t expect to see you again.
Bree: Now, you know both of us being in the same town, I couldn’t resist stopping in for a visit.
Will: You look good.
Bree: Thanks, so do you.
Will: So, killed anybody lately?
Bree: Old guy. Made his kid cry. You?
Will: Couple of ditzy blondes.
Bree: Never was a fan of those.
Will: I'm usually not, either, they tend to get stuck in my teeth and then
there's all that bloating afterwards. But, you eat what you have to eat, you know? Bree: I don't actually eat the people I kill.
Will: Well, now, that's just being wasteful.
Bree: Hear you’re looking for the Orb of Oxala.
Will: You, too?
Bree: I’m always working. Got a potential buyer if I can track it down.
She noticed how he kept eyeballing the door. She pointed, as if to ask, “In there?” Will nodded. She always could tell his angles. And, he could always tell hers.
Bree: Mm, you feel so good. So, what do you say, for old time’s sake?
Will: I do remember Mustique fondly.
Bree: You are the most fantastic vampire lover I’ve ever had.
Will: And, you were the most amazing human lover I’ve ever had. I mean, there’s this other girl, but I can send her home.
Eve could hardly believe her ears. She knew the smacking of lips when she heard them and – did he just moan? Then, he was talking about sending Eve home so he could go do whatever with her? Oh, that bitch was crossing the line.
Eve vacated her bath and grabbed a towel.
Eve: Who the hell do you think you are?
Bree: Name’s Bree. And, you would be?
Eve: Eve Wellington. My father owns half this city and if you think you can just come in here putting your mouth and various other skanky parts of yourself on my captor-slash-vampire with benefits, you have another thing coming!
And, with that, Eve grabbed Bree. Fisticuffs ensued and Will tried not to laugh – tried and failed, miserably. Plus, he smelled smoke…
Will: I’ll just be over here when you girls get this worked out.
Bree: I’m leaving, Will. Call me when you stop robbing sandboxes.
Eve was fuming. She’d never been so angry in her entire life and when Will approached her wearing that trademark smug look of his, she could’ve clawed his face off.
Will: Me? What did I do?
Eve: Don’t play coy. “Oh, Eve, I have feelings for you. Blah, blah, blah.” You’re no better than Josh! At least he had the decency to cheat on me with Christine instead of Skankasaurus Bree.
Will: I didn’t cheat.
Eve: You kissed her!
Eve: Oh.
Will: Unless deep down, contrary to your numerous, if unconvincing, protestations, you do have a thing for me.
Eve: I don’t do dead guys, remember?
Will: But, you do second-base them?
Eve: I’m going to go finish my bath.
Will: I’ll make brunch.
Eve: I’d sooner starve.
When Christine woke, her first thought was that it felt so cold for late-September. Then, she remembered. The coldness had nothing to do with the weather and everything to do with the icy pain inside her. It all came flooding back in vivid color – the woman, her father, the way she cruelly broke his neck, the paramedics and their consoling smiles as they said they were sorry, there was nothing they could do for him.
She smelled bacon wafting in from the kitchen and even in clarity still thought maybe – just maybe – it was her father making breakfast. She knew it was Aidan, though. He’d been so kind, staying with her all night.
Aidan: Hey, I made breakfast.
Christine: I’m not hungry.
Aidan: You should eat.
Christine: Why did you come back?
Aidan: You needed me.
Christine: But, how did you know?
Aidan knew it was now or never. He had to tell her everything. The last thing Christine needed was more lies. He led her into the living room and had her sit down. Michael would not be pleased with this, but Michael was the least of his concerns right now.
Aidan: There’s something I need to tell you. I haven’t been honest about who I am or why I came here.
Christine: Who are you?
Aidan: My name is Aidan, Gallagher is a made-up last name so I could assimilate. I don’t have one of my own.
Christine: How can you not have a last name? Unless you’re Cher or Madonna or Beyonce.
Aidan: Despite a haircut which some of my peers have likened to that of the antichrist, Justin Bieber, I am not a pop star.
Christine: Then, what are you?
Aidan: I’m an angel.
Christine: An angel? Like, Roma Downey? Where are your wings and halo?
Christine: Oh.
Aidan: Only girl angels get halos.
Christine: I need to sit down.
Aidan: You are sitting down.
Christine: Oh.
Aidan tucked his wings away. He didn’t want to overwhelm her.
Sitting wasn't helping. Christine tried her luck on her feet.
Aidan: I was sent here to protect you. All witches get guardians –
Christine: Witch?
Aidan: You did a spell six months ago, creating a coven by binding yourself and your friends to your mother’s magic book.
Christine: How do you know about that?
Aidan: I knew Samantha’s guardian, too.
Christine: Fine job he did.
Aidan: Samantha’s time was –
Christine cut her eyes towards him. Now wasn’t the time. Someone rung the bell. Christine told him to go wait in her room and he disappeared before her eyes.
She went to the door and, when she opened it, was surprised to see Olivia Deveraux, her maternal aunt, on the other side.
Franklin Winters worked out. Uncle Stavros had him on a strict circuit – running three miles per day, strength training, cardio, and of course martial arts training. He knew he had to keep his reflexes sharp, but sometimes he wondered if he’d be the first slayer to die from heart attack at eighteen.
Franklin: Hey. You okay? You look kind of down.
Stavros: A friend of mine passed last night.
Franklin: Vampire?
Stavros: No, just an evil human. Sometimes I forget mortals can be just as monstrous as, well, monsters. You got a phone call.
Stavros: No, the young man again. Perhaps if you speak to him, he’ll stop phoning.
Franklin: I have spoken to him. I told him I have nothing to say. I’m going for my run.
Stavros: Franklin, if you ever want to speak about your personal life, you do know I’ll listen. You are more to me than just a legacy I must impart.
Franklin: Thanks, Uncle Stavros. I know, I’m just not used to it. Dad still hasn’t even tried to talk to me. Stavros: I made many mistakes with my Oliver, and my brother made many mistakes with you. I do not understand this life you live, but I love you very much, Franklin, and want very much to not make the same mistakes I made with Oliver with you. Besides, you’re an exceptional young man. If my brother doesn’t see that, it’s his loss.
Franklin: I love you, too.
Will put the waffles in the oven.
Will: You’re really going to love my waffles.
Eve: I told you, I’m not eating anything you make.
Will: More for me, then.
Eve: How do you even eat? You’re dead.
Will: House might not be occupied anymore, but the plumbing still works. You familiarized yourself with a pipe in the wash room, if I recall correctly and it wasn’t a hallucination from the ammonia-based cleaners.
Eve: I hate you.
A few minutes later, Will put the waffles down. They did smell good and she hadn’t really eaten anything since her kidnapping. Begrudgingly, she got a plate and sat down across from Will.
Will: Thought you weren’t eating.
Eve: A starving person will eat just about anything, even food made by a dead thing.
Will: I’m starting to get the feeling my status as a non-living entity bothers you? How are the waffles?
Eve: Passable.
They ate in silence, Will occasionally stealing a glance at Eve. She had three helpings, pretty good for a girl who hated the waffles and their chef.
Afterwards, she got up and collected the dishes.
Will: You don’t have to do that.
Eve: It’s okay. My brother showed me how to do it like the pilgrims did back in the 1950s.
Will: Those hands don’t belong in dishwater. That’s what I have Fields for.
Eve: What do you care about my hands?
Will: I told you, I care about you. I don’t know what you want me to do to prove it.
Eve: Let me go? Let go of this business with the Orb of Oreos--
Will: Oxala.
Eve: Whatever. Do you even know how to let anyone go?
Will: I have more experience than you think.
Atlanta, Georgia, 1845
Willow Mancini lay in her bed, calmer than she imagined she would be. Death was coming soon, was probably years overdue. Her children were all grown, had children and even grandchildren of their own. Her life was complete, there was nothing left undone – nothing but solving the mystery of the dark haired man who sat by her side.
Will: Yes. No. No, not really.
Willow: But, I feel like I do.
Will: My name is Will. I knew your father.
Willow: Which one?
Will: I’m sorry?
Willow: I have two, the man who raised me and my birth father. I
didn’t know anything about him except that he gave me away to keep me safe. His name was William, too. Will: I knew them both. Your birth father, he loved you more than anyone in this world and he kept his eye on you from afar.
Willow: I’m sure he was very ashamed at my unladylike life.
Will: No, there’s nothing you could have done that would have displeased him.
Willow: Not even being a glorified mistress, having children out of wedlock?
Will: Not even that. He was always so proud of you, forging a life for yourself independent of social construct. You reminded him of your birth mother in that respect.
Willow: I’m dying.
Will: I know.
Willow: Do you think there’s a Heaven?
Will: I don’t know. But, I hope there is and that you find your way there.
He stayed with her for an hour longer, telling her stories of his adventures and listening to stories of hers that he already knew by heart, never once letting on who he was. He sat at her side until she closed her eyes and slipped away, and even a while after that. Will watched his only child die, and though his grief overwhelmed him, there was small relief in knowing she had a long, happy life, the one thing he would never have.
Bridgeport, Present Day
Eve was stunned. She’d assumed when Will told her about letting his daughter go, he’d never seen her again. How awful it must’ve been, seeing her die.
Eve: I’m so sorry.
Will: I’m not human anymore, as you like to point out. I’m a dead thing. A monster. But, just like my digestive processes still work, I can still feel love. I still love Willow. I still miss Willow. And, I do care for you enough to let you go.
Eve: What?
Will: If that’s what it will take to prove to you that my feelings for you are real, yes. I’ll call Fields in from the guest house to take you home.
Eve: Wait.
Will: What?
Eve: Call him in an hour?
Christine showed her aunt around the apartment – everything except her bedroom, where she assumed Aidan still was hiding. Though, maybe he was back on his cloud or wherever angels hung out.
Olivia: Of course I came. I booked an airline ticket the second the call came in about your father. What was it?
Christine: What do you mean?
Olivia: Human? Vampire? Other?
Christine: You know about vampires?
Christine: I’m really glad you’re here.
Olivia: And, tell the angel to stop hiding. It’s bad form.
Christine: How did you know?
Olivia: We all have our talents, dear.
Miss Novak didn’t like leaving work in the middle of the day, especially when Wellington was Crisis Central. Josh was gone, Gabriel was stressing over Lansing and the Orb of Oxala and she was getting called in by Principal Sherman because her son was in yet another fight.
Sherman: It’s alright. I’d hoped the issue with Noah would be resolved.
Natalia: What happened?
Sherman: He and Griffin Sutter began brawling during homeroom.
Natalia: What’s the penalty?
Sherman: Your son has been suspended for two weeks.
Natalia: And, am I to assume Congressman Sutter’s son received the same punishment?
Sherman: Why, your son was the aggressor, Miss Novak. I see no reason to punish Congressman Sutter’s son when the boy was merely defending himself.
Natalia: Right. And, this has nothing to do with Congressman Sutter being a political figure and a chief financial contributor to this school?
The bell rung and Principal Sherman went inside, instructing Natalia to escort her son off the premises.
Noah: I got in a fight.
Natalia: Why? It’s not like you to retaliate when that bully starts in on you. Not that I’m mad, I like that you defended yourself.
Noah: A bunch of kids had their fathers come in to talk about their jobs today. Griffin was saying things about how I don’t have one. He said my father didn’t love me and that’s why he didn’t stick around after I was born.
Natalia: And, you hit him for that?
Noah: No. He said my father probably left because of you. He said you were a slut who probably didn’t even know who my dad was. Then, I hit him. He can say what he wants about me, he doesn’t get to talk about you like that.
Natalia: Go get in the car.
Noah: Mom, don’t hurt him.
Natalia: I’m not going to hurt him. I promise.
When her son was out of earshot, Natalia went over to Griffin. He smelled of chocolate and arrogance.
Griffin: Novak’s slut mom?
Natalia: I am Novak’s mom. But, I’m going to let you in on a little secret, Griffin. I’m not like most mothers. Most mothers carry soccer gear in the backs of their cars. Do you know what I keep in the back of mine? Tarp, a case of bleach and a hacksaw. I can make fish bait of a dead body in fifteen minutes flat without even breaking a sweat.
Griffin: Why should I care? Natalia: Because, Noah might not have a father in the picture right now, but he has a mother, a dangerous mother with very, very powerful friends. And, if you keep running your mouth to my son, I can see to it that he’s not the only little boy in your class who doesn’t have a daddy to brag about. Now, when you go home tonight, your father is going to have a broken kneecap. Let this be a lesson to you that I can get to him anytime, anywhere, any way I want. And, next time you think about rubbing your father in my son’s face, you should think twice because if you hurt him again, I won’t stop with your daddy’s kneecaps.
As she walked away, Natalia took pleasure in the scent of urine overpowering the chocolate and the arrogance – and called in the job on Congressman Sutter’s kneecap.
Aidan agreed to watch Christine while her aunt ran a few errands – annoying Christine to no end. She didn’t need to be watched.
Christine: I’m fine.
Aidan: You don’t look fine. You look pale.
Christine: I’m just tired. I’m exhausted.
Aidan: Why don’t you go lie down?
Christine: I – I – will in a second….is the world spinning all topsy-turvy for you?
Christine collapsed and Aidan caught her, scooping her up in his arms. He carried her to bed.
At nightfall, Franklin went hunting. He beheaded a couple of vamps down by the bridge, but other than that, it’d been a slow night. He stopped in at Moonstruck for a drink. Moonstruck, like most places in Bridgeport, didn’t seem all that concerned with carding.
He sat down next to someone he didn’t recognize.
Franklin: I’ll have what he’s having. Make it a double.
Bree: Coming up.
Preston: Hey, man, you don’t want what I’m having. My drink is the drink of those whose love gauge is below the E.
Franklin: Then, I want exactly what you’re having. Love sucks. Preston: It’s for the birds, man. Tell you my horror story if you’ll tell me yours.
Franklin: Tale as old as time. Boy is friends with Other Boy. Boy is friends with benefits with Other Boy. Other Boy goes back to girlfriend. Boy realizes he’s in love. Other Boy cheats on girlfriend with Boy, Boy takes off for parts unknown.
Preston: I feel you. I mean, if I hear one more time, “I’ve decided I’m straight,” I’m going to throw myself in front of a bus.Franklin: You, too? I feel like I’m cursed. Every guy I’m with decides he’s straight. Sometimes I think I’m doing the gay thing wrong and it’s so traumatizing to my partners they’re scared straight.
Bree: You know, I’ve always believed in the palate cleanser. The one surefire way of getting over the old love clogging your system is to purge them with commitment-free sex. Why don’t you two go over to the booth by the window and get to know each other a little better?
The boys went off together and Bree took a phone call, giddy.
Boss: I don’t care. Did you find my orb?
Bree: No. Not yet. But, I’m working on it. Will Lansing has Gabriel Wellington’s daughter. From what I gather, he’s going to barter her for the orb, but I don’t know how that’s going to go. I think he’s kind of in love with her.
Boss: I’m starting to wonder why I leave you alive, Bree. Just forget it. I’ll get the orb myself.
The boss hung up. She could be so moody sometimes.
Josh and Isobel came out in Cleveland. Then, Sunset Valley. Then, Mumbai. Finally, after much effort and concentration, Isobel got them to Christine’s front lawn.
Isobel: Aha! See? I told you I’d get the hang of this eventually.
Josh: There she is. Gosh, she looks so beautiful.
Isobel: Yeah. There’s something I probably should tell you –
Inside, Christine smiled at Aidan, who’d finally gotten her to sleep and eat, though she hadn’t slept long and hadn’t eaten much.
Aidan: Are you mad?
Christine: Furious. I don’t like being lied to. But, I also don’t like being alone and since you stayed with me all night, I don’t see how I could possibly stay mad.
Aidan: There’s something else you should know –
Christine: Not tonight? Could you please just kiss me?
Aidan drew her to him, pressing his lips against hers, savoring their first kiss. He’d never known a human embrace before, but in that moment, he understood everything about why Gabriel had his wings clipped to be with a human. Heaven help him, if he knew her intimately just once, his wings would be stripped away, too. He would fall just as Gabriel did. In Christine’s arms, it seemed almost worth it.
Isobel: She thinks you’re dead. And, well, you kind of are. Not that I’m judging since I’m in the same boat.
Josh: I should go.
Isobel: No. She needs to know you’re alive.
Josh: No, she doesn’t. She’s better off this way, even with him. Please, don’t tell her.
Christine went to the door when she heard the bell, relieved to see Isobel on the other side.
Christine: Vampire.
Isobel: How did you know?
Christine: Long weekend.
Isobel: Do you hate me?
Christine: Of course I don’t hate you. I’m just glad you’re here, Isobel. I need you so much right now.
Franklin told his life story to Preston, every horrifying detail from Vincent to Cynthia to Noel. And, Preston did the same, leaving out the minor detail that he was a vampire. He liked Franklin and didn’t want him to run screaming for the hills.
Franklin: I’m sorry, I’ve probably bored you to tears.
Preston: You haven’t.
Franklin: So, time for me to be bold boy and ask if maybe you want to get out of here?
Preston: I live nearby.
Christine struggled to process everything Isobel had told her once she’d finished telling Isobel about her father’s murder.
Isobel: That about sums it up, yes.
Christine: We have to get to Eve.
Isobel: But, how?
Christine: I think I have an idea. Aidan!
Christine and Aidan sat down on the floor, meditating. Aidan told her to focus her energies on Will. She tried her best, but got nothing.
Christine: This isn’t working.
Aidan: Just focus. Let yourself be drawn to him, don’t force it.
Christine didn’t even know if this would work. She remembered Patty, how she’d seen Will kill her in her sleep, as vividly as if she were there. Aidan called it “astral projection.” She had some sort of freaky link to him, but when she needed it most, it was failing her.
Suddenly, an image appeared in Christine’s head and she felt something pull away from her, speeding through the city faster than light.
Christine: I see them. They’re … together.
Will: Are you going to regret this tomorrow?
Eve: We haven’t gone too far. Besides, I’m good at compartmentalizing. I’ll chalk it up to Stockholm Syndrome. Now, do that thing with your fangs again.
Will: You’re a bossy little thing.
Eve: You love it.
Christine: Maybe he’s compelling her.
Aidan: Eve can’t be compelled. For the same reason her blood has temporary day-walking effects for vampires, she’s essentially immune to their powers.
Christine: Either way, we have to get her away from him. I won’t let him hurt someone else I love. I have a plan.
Gabriel was in his car, heading for Christine Parker’s, when his phone went off. He pushed a button on the dash, answering his hands-free device.
Will and Eve stood at the water’s edge. The sun would be up soon. She didn’t want to leave, but Isobel had called and asked her to meet there.
Eve: I’m not saying I’m okay with you being a vampire. I’m especially not okay with you hurting Isobel. But, you’re not entirely evil and I know where you’re coming from. People get so caught up in your bad side they fail to see your good side.
Will: If people don’t see you for the absolutely breathtaking young woman you are, it’s their fault.
Eve: It’s just hard for me to believe you when you say you have these feelings for me, even when you prove it like you’ve done tonight.Will: Why?
Eve: It’s hard for me to believe anyone loves me. I can be so selfish and territorial and when someone hurts me, I have to make them hurt like I’m hurting or I can’t function. Then, there’s you, this guy who’s cursed with eternity, who watched his only child he’ll ever have die of old age. And, I get it. I get why you wanted to find this Orb of Oxala and tear the world apart at its seams, because you’re like me. You can’t endure your own pain, so you try to make everyone else hurt like you hurt. Then, I ask you to let it go and you do just to make me happy and I don’t understand –
Will hugged her. He could sense she was near tears and he couldn’t bear to see her like this. She was beautiful, amazing, strong – why couldn’t she see it? And, why couldn’t these people she loved see it, too? They didn’t deserve her.
Eve: You should go, then. But, before you leave, maybe you should take some more of my blood? You said the effects were temporary and –
Will: No. I won’t use you like that, Eve.
Eve: You’re not using me.
Will: I’ll be okay.
And, with that, he flew off into the dawn.
When Eve turned around, Isobel and Christine were there.
Eve: Excuse me?
Christine: After everything that thing did to Isobel, you’re making out with him?
Eve: It’s not that simple!
Christine: He killed her!
Isobel: Um, well technically Aidan tried to kill me, too.
Isobel: I’m just saying. If we’re going to throw stones at each other’s supernatural creature boyfriends, we should be fair.
Eve: Isobel, I know what he did to you and I’m sorry.
Isobel: It’s okay.
Christine: No, it isn’t! He sunk his fangs into her, drained her of her blood and killed her.
Eve: Are you alright, Isobel?
Isobel: I’m just glad you’re speaking to me. I never meant to hurt you.
Eve: I know. I’m not mad. See? I’m okay.
Eve: Huh?
Isobel: Funny story, I was going to let myself go kaboom in the sun because I was sad, thinking I’d killed you. But, then I could walk around in the sun, which I’m guessing has something to do with you being my last meal. I went home, all happy, but then my father knew I was a vampire and had these very large men tranquilize me and lock me up in a cell, where your
dad came to visit me. He was going to let me go, because of you, but then I told him I bit you and was the reason you got smooch-kidnapped by Will and so he tried to kill me. I teleported and came out on another level, where I found – um, nobody. Nobody at all. Eve: My father did that?
Christine: I always told you Gabriel rubbed me the wrong way. Abducting people, ruining marriages…
Eve: Excuse me? Your mother had as much to do with her marriage hitting the rocks as my father did.
Isobel: Um, guys?
Christine: My mother was a good woman, and my father was a good man.
Eve: Was?
Christine: Yeah, he was murdered tonight. That woman probably worked for your father, too, since every shady thing in this city seems to lead back to him. Isobel: About the magic blood…
Eve: How dare you? You don’t know that my father is in any way connected to Silas’ death!
Christine: I know my father lowered himself to asking Gabriel for a job and he sent him away. I bet he laughed about it. “I had his wife and now I’ve taken the last shred of his dignity!”
Isobel: GUYS!
Eve, Christine: WHAT?!
Before their eyes, Isobel burst into flames. Christine screamed, but Eve was strangely calm. She stared at the flames and the weirdest thing happened – they died down. She didn’t understand, she told the flames to stop inside her mind and they did?
Quickly, she grabbed Isobel and made her feed, before she ignited again in the sunlight.
Isobel: Thank you. You’re a good friend, Eve. I didn’t expect you to give me anymore blood since we came to distract you while your father kills Will.
Eve: What?
Isobel: Oh, crap. I wasn’t supposed to tell her that part, was I, Christine?
Eve: You say you can teleport, Is? Get me to Will...please?
Gabriel followed Christine’s directions. This was where she’d said Will lived. And, this would be where he died.
Gabriel followed Christine’s directions. This was where she’d said Will lived. And, this would be where he died.
Eve: Leave him alone, Daddy.
Gabriel: Eve! You’re alright.
Eve: Fine, no thanks to you.
Gabriel: I don’t know what you’re talking about.
Parker thing, you said no more lies, your family came first. And, I believed you!
Gabriel: You don’t have all the facts. Neither do they. And, I don’t know what this thing has done to brainwash you –
Eve: Nothing. He hasn’t done anything to brainwash me. All he’s done is listen to me and give me a message to give to you.Gabriel: What message?
Eve: He knows you have the Orb of Oxen –
Gabriel: Oxala.
Eve: Argh, whatever! He wants you to destroy it.
Gabriel: Why?
Gabriel: You can’t trust those things.
Eve: Can I trust you? I am asking you, as your daughter, to go home with me. Please?
They rode home in relative silence. Gabriel once tried to explain.
Gabriel: I’m not who you think I am.
Eve: Clearly.
Gabriel: I would never hurt you.
Eve: What do you think it would’ve done to me if Isobel died?
Gabriel: She hurt you. I can’t see straight when I think of someone hurting you.
Eve: No. You’ve got that market cornered.
She said nothing else until they got home. Gabriel parked the car in the garage and, as they headed towards the front door, confronted his daughter.
Gabriel: Are we going to be okay, Eve?
Eve: We’re as far from okay as you could possibly get.
They went inside, but Gabriel stopped when he realized something was wrong.
Gabriel: Eve, get out of here.
Eve: Who is that?
Victoria: Hello, Gabriel. Hope you don’t mind. I helped myself to a little snack.
Oh NOs!
ReplyDeleteYay! A new chapter! So liking Will and Eve right now :) And Franklin is quite adorable - can't wait to see what comes of him and Preston.
ReplyDelete