A tale of fragile fate, p.31
A Tale of Fragile Fate, page 31
“Edith told me you’ve been having migraines,” I murmur, studying the picture. “She asked me to tell her if they continue.”
He makes a face like he’s annoyed that the nurse told me. “I’m fine, Lake. It’s not a big deal.”
“She also said you could have gotten seriously hurt last night—”
“I don’t care what Edith said,” he says over me with a sigh. “A tree falling on a truck wasn’t going to kill me.”
I argue back, “You’re not invincible, Reid.”
He rolls his eyes. “Immortality and invincibility are abstract concepts, Lake, especially for someone like me. Edith may have told you things about me, but that doesn’t mean you understand what any of them mean.” I can sense the twinge of bite in his tone that only irritates me in response.
“Maybe I could understand if someone took the time to explain it.” I slip my phone away into the pocket of my cardigan. My statement isn’t entirely fair; I know that Reid has been more forthcoming with me than he has with most people, and I regret saying it.
Reid nods, slipping off the bed. My heart sinks, assuming I’ve now upset him when he walks towards the door, but he stops, waving two fingers for me to join him. “Come,” he says.
“Where?”
“To get my car,” he replies. “We can talk on the way.”
forty-seven
Reid and I walk to the front of campus, and my stomach twists with nerves at the thought of seeing his father again. Reid holds a hand over his eyes to shield them from the sun. I had almost forgotten that he broke his glasses last night.
“You said you’d like answers. Hit me with what you got, and I’ll do my best,” he says.
All the questions in the world to ask, and suddenly I feel overwhelmed just looking for one. I want to know everything about him—his life, his family, even something as trivial as his favorite color. I don’t want my questions to come across as uneducated or stereotypical. I’m purely fascinated by his existence, and I want my questions to come across as such.
“Purely so I have the information and not because I plan on doing so,” I say, noticing how Reid cracks a smile, “theoretically, what can kill you?”
“It’s funny because I actually told you on your first day.” Reid reaches into his back pocket, pulling out a pencil. He hands it to me.
“Seriously? This can end an immortal creature?” I ask in disbelief. Reid nods, tapping the space over his heart, to which I say, “I thought you were just being funny.”
“And I thought you’d understand the joke.” He laughs. “A wooden stake to the heart is the only way to kill a vampire. No matter how big or small, any will do the job.”
I smirk. “I’ll keep my joke to myself.”
“You’re not subtle.” The look on his face makes my heart skip a beat.
“So, vampires can heal faster than humans, as long as it’s not the big stick in the heart?” I ask.
“Correct. The worse the injury, the longer it takes, but we still heal far faster than humans do.”
“Is that why you don’t mind being my bodyguard?” I joke, casually slipping my hand into his.
“Whether I’m a vampire or not, I’m not going to let you get hurt. If I can do something to prevent it, I’m going to do it, Lake.”
The statement hits me harder than I expect, and I restrain myself from plowing into him, wrapping my arms around him and hugging him tightly. He’s so selfless when it comes to me. He always has been.
“Edith said your migraines could be because of me,” I murmur. “Why didn’t you say anything about it?”
“She thinks that, Lake. She doesn’t know…I don’t know what it is. And you have enough to worry about.”
I do have plenty to worry about, but that doesn’t take away the fear I have that something will happen to him. Or the impending guilt that will come…knowing it’s my fault.
“If she’s right, what could happen to you? Will it worsen? Can you get sick? Can vampires get sick?”
Reid sighs, diverting his gaze. “Not traditionally, no. Not in the ways you can. Not unless they’ve been harmed by something like magic. That or—” He swallows hard, and I can feel his sudden discomfort. There’s no need for him to finish the sentence. I know what he wants to say. I know what he’s too afraid to say.
“The urge to drink blood. Thirst.” My statement lingers for far too long, Reid neither confirming nor denying my assumption. His lack of response is enough of a reply all in itself, however, and I squeeze his hand. I want to tread lightly, mostly from not knowing how to support him in this new territory.
“Vampires…normal vampires…can become sick when they aren’t adequately supplementing their thirst. I’ve never had this happen, though. I’ve never felt like I needed it. I’ve spent the past seven years getting by just fine.” There’s a very apparent war in his eyes. “I don’t know if it’s because you’re human, or if something is happening to me…I just know that the migraines began after you cut your hand. You’ve been a constant thought in my head since, and it’s gotten worse over the past few days.”
Reid holds the door open for me to cut through the main hall. The lounge area is empty, and the foyer is eerily quiet as we cross the room.
“When you say I’m a constant thought,” I whisper. “What does that mean?”
He pauses before opening the doors to the outside. “I’m only telling you this because you asked, not because I intend to upset you.” He swings the door open and leads me outside into the sun again. “Since that night at the lake, I’ve had thoughts of you that I’m not exactly proud of.”
I crack a smile. “It can’t be worse than the one I had of you.” Quickly realizing what I’ve now revealed, I virtually kick myself in the ass. “I…don’t know why I just told you that.”
He seems both suspicious and weary. “I’m pretty sure mine is worse out of the two of us, Lake.” Running a hand through his tousled hair, Reid’s eyes darken. “Sometimes I have thoughts of drinking blood. Yours.” My stomach dips, acid sloshing around in a way that makes me swallow hard, but before I can say anything, he adds, “I wouldn’t, for the record. I would never put you in that position.”
Maybe it’s naive to say, but the thought of Reid taking my blood had never crossed my mind. I’ve never seen him eat or drink more than water or the larger-than-life coffees he always has his hands on. He is a vampire. I’m human, with blood running through my veins. Edith was right; I am a constant temptation to him, whether he wants to admit it or not. Even now, knowing, I’m not scared of Reid.
“What are you going to do?” I question, following him down the stairs. “If Edith is right, how do we fix it? Can we fix it?”
Reid shakes his head. “I don’t know.” He turns his head and swears under his breath. “Lovely.”
Following his line of sight, I watch as his black Mercedes speeds down the road toward us, an almost identical vehicle in white following a few feet behind. Reid squeezes my hand, sending a flood of warmth up my arm before releasing his grasp. I wish our conversation could continue, wishing I could ask more about him, about vampirism, about his thoughts of me.
His vehicle stops in front of us and parks, the white Mercedes pulling up beside it. Both driver’s side doors swing open, and Reid’s father steps out of the black one, Evelyn out of the white.
Mr. Beckett, dressed in a much more casual outfit of a black button-up and dark jeans, seems impossible to read as he shuts the car door, swinging Reid’s keyring around his pointer finger. Evelyn’s wearing a dark blue peplum dress and black cardigan, her long blonde hair in a high ballerina bun. She’s dressed far older than she is, and I don’t even know her actual age. Her outfit just seems wrong on her. Like she’s trying to be someone she’s not.
“Five hundred dollars,” Reid’s father says, clearly unamused, as he tosses the keys to Reid. “I don’t know how the people of Astryn Penn live in town with those prices. Absolutely ridiculous.” I look at the two expensive cars he very much paid for and internally raise an eyebrow. Granted, I don’t know much about Mr. Beckett, but the signs all point to rich but frugal if it doesn’t directly benefit himself.
Reid tucks his keys into his pocket. “I can pay you back for the car.”
His father looks at him, surprised. “I didn’t realize my son had suddenly found an influx of money that isn’t his father’s.”
Ouch. It’s one thing for Reid’s father to be rude to him when nobody is nearby, but I’m clearly standing here, and he holds no remorse for his words.
Reid has no response, simply nodding his head as he diverts his gaze. Typically, he always has something smart to say, and I’m curious as to why today he’s chosen a different path. Maybe it’s the easier one.
Mr. Beckett’s eyes meet mine, and he smiles before clapping his hands together. “Tell you what—why don’t you and Miss Watson join us for dinner tonight, and we’ll just put this whole car situation behind us. Yes?”
The request is both odd and manipulative, and I expect Reid to fully tell his dad to shove it. However, he glances down at me with soft, pleading eyes, silently asking me for confirmation. It’s unlike him to give in that easily to any request that he most certainly doesn’t want to do.
Why is his father suddenly getting under his skin?
Did Reid even tell his father who did this to his car? Why would a dinner with me change his mind over the monetary cost?
But Reid would willingly throw himself in harm’s way to save my life. He’s done it. Multiple times. Dinner is nothing in comparison. If it makes Reid’s life easier, I’m more than willing to appease them.
“We would love to, Mr. Beckett.” My words meet Reid’s father with surprise, but his lips spread into a cat-like grin.
“Delightful,” he says, motioning for Evelyn to join him at his side. She scurries over, her small heels clacking against the pavement. “I’ll make reservations at Morso Eterno for seven. Don’t be late, Reid.”
Reid’s lack of enthusiasm is obvious when he simply says, “Okay.”
“I look forward to getting to know more about you, Miss Watson,” Mr. Beckett states, guiding his fiancée over to their car. “I have a feeling Reid hasn’t told you much about his dear old dad.”
Well, at least he’s self-aware.
Reid’s father holds the passenger side door open for Evelyn before joining her on the opposite side. He waves a small goodbye to us. Pulling out of campus, the two speed down the road and out of sight.
“I’m sorry,” Reid says, immediately apologizing. “You don’t have to go. Having dinner with my family is probably the last thing you’d want…especially with everything going on with Daniel.”
“My brother is safe with Edith, and she told me he’d be there for a few days. Besides, having dinner with you is far from the worst thing in the world. I could use a few hours away from this place.”
Reid slides his hands onto either side of my waist, pulling me close. “I don’t deserve you,” he murmurs, resting his forehead on mine. “I was certain you’d run by now. I’d run.”
“Lucky for you, I don’t have anywhere to run to.” I smile. “Can I ask you one more question?”
“Of course.”
Admittedly, I have an entire list of questions to be asked, waiting to be answered. I know that I’ll have time to get to them, so I choose the one that’s most prevalent at the moment.
“That night at the lake. Before I cut my hand...you asked if I felt something.”
“Ah, yes. I believe you called me hot.” His demeanor is coy, and I roll my eyes.
“Not the point.” I laugh. “What is it? And why does it happen every time we touch?”
With a kind smile, Reid slides a hand to cup the side of my face. The heat in question tingles from his fingertips and creeps slowly across my skin.
“That one’s a bit complicated to explain,” he murmurs. “Will you settle for a it’s a vampire thing for now?”
“I don’t have much of a choice, do I?” I giggle, already distracted by whatever this vampire thing is. And when Reid leans in to kiss me, I forget about everything anyway.
Though things are still dark, and there’s much to figure out, one positive is that Reid and I don’t have to keep secrets any longer. We have each other to figure all of this out.
Whatever it is.
forty-eight
I spend nearly all of Saturday and Sunday in the infirmary with my brother to keep my eye on him and keep him away from any Dixon family members, all of whom have been more or less MIA since the carnival. I’m not complaining. I have no desire to see any of them, not knowing what I would do if I did.
After the incident at the bonfire, the entire class was called together to be lectured over off-campus social gatherings. But now, after a school-wide brawl during one of Astryn Penn’s most important weekends, it’s been silent. Like it never even happened. And I can’t help but wonder if that has something to do with Reid’s father or my brother.
Daniel and I don’t talk about much. I’d rather let him have time to rest and recover instead of bombarding him with questions. He drifts in and out of sleep while I stay at his side, and Edith tells me it’s just a side effect of overexerting his powers.
I’ve tried to call my father nearly thirty times since the accident at the carnival, all of which went straight to voicemail. If he was here, he would have shown himself. I have to admit that he was nothing but a figment of my imagination, and this nightmare I call my life is far from over.
He’s not coming to get us.
Regardless of my sisterly duties, as I now sit on the ledge of my dorm bathroom's ledge, I have to be completely checked out on Daniel for the evening and thoroughly checked in on something entirely new.
At the ripe age of seventeen, I’ve never had dinner with a boy, let alone a boy and his family. It feels juvenile to be this nervous, considering everything else occupying my mind as of late, but I can’t help the fluttering in my stomach as I count down the minutes.
“You look hot,” Piper says, applying a thick streak of nude lipstick to my lower lip. She insisted on going old-fashioned this evening, which is just the human way of doing makeup, and honestly, I’m thankful for her efforts. I can barely think of my name, let alone what I should wear on this date. Lucky for me, Piper’s got everything covered, down to the shoes and matching bag.
“You’re sure this isn’t too much?” I ask quietly.
She looks almost insulted at my question. “No. You look great.” Piper combs her fingers through the ends of my curled hair.
I glance down at my outfit, consisting of a light sage bustier top with flowy, long sleeves, a pair of high-waisted jeans, and black sandals. I’ve never dressed as nicely as this—I’ve never tried to. I'd much rather wear leggings and a sweatshirt, but I do feel pretty, and I’d hate to complain after all the work Piper has put into this.
“Then don’t,” she says, reminding me once more of her ability to pick my brain. Literally.
“Sorry.”
A light knock from outside suddenly sends me spiraling, knowing I can’t turn back now. Piper grins, waltzing over to the door and swinging it open.
I’ve always thought that the phrase it was like the world stopped was somewhat cliché and corny, but when I lay eyes on Reid, I forget how to breathe. Wearing a fitted, emerald-green button-up neatly tucked into a pair of dark slacks, his eyes shine a vibrant sage when they find my waiting gaze. His typically unruly hair is much more uniform now, and he finally looks like he's slept. It's a good sign.
I step into the doorway as Piper slips out of the way. Reid’s eyes travel up and down, taking me in, and my knees threaten to give out from under me.
“You clean up nice,” I say, intending for it to tease him but failing when my anxiety leaks through to my voice.
“I try,” he replies warmly, extending a hand for me to take.
“I want her home by eleven,” she scolds, popping her head back into view, pointing two fingers at her eyes, followed by his.
Reid chuckles, snaking an arm around my waist. “Ten fifty-five and not a minute later.” She grins in response, waving to both of us before closing the door.
We head for his car, and Reid holds the door open for me. I notice him squinting again as the sun begins to set on the horizon. I know it wasn’t my fault, but I feel bad that his glasses are broken, knowing how important they are to him.
The drive into the actual downtown district of Astryn Penn is about forty-five minutes, all of which I use to ask Reid questions that aren’t necessarily life or death, but more for fun. I like learning things about him, even the smallest of details—his favorite color being green, his favorite number being eighty-two for no reason whatsoever, and his birthday. October 24th. A Scorpio. With most of our conversations being so heavy, it feels like a breath of fresh air to talk about us as individuals.
Reid pulls into a parking lot beside a white brick building and parks, a sigh coming along with it. As he unbuckles his seatbelt, I can sense his uneasiness and lay a hand on his knee.
“It’ll be okay,” I tell him.
He’s not convinced. “It’s been two years since he’s shown any interest in me. I don’t know why he’s suddenly so invested in having dinner with me, let alone you.”
I can’t help but laugh. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “I just…I don’t want you to think less of me because of my father. I’m not like him, Lake.”
I feel bad for Reid. I really do. From my few interactions with Mr. Beckett, I know he’s nothing like him. They may share a sarcastic smile and somewhat similar genetics, but it doesn’t go far beyond that.
It’s not much, but I squeeze his hand. There’s nothing I can say to make him feel better, I know that. He knows that. But I do say, “I would never think that.”
“Ready?” he asks, choosing not to fight me on it.
