CharlieSleep was peaceful and I guess much needed as I slept late into the day. Maxwell didn’t bother to wake me and now I’m left with little time before the presentation begins.“You’re nervous, I understand, but nothing terrible is going to happen.” Maxwell rubs my arms, trying to calm me.“What exactly is going to happen? I mean, what’s the purpose of this presentation anyways?” Part of me wants to know and the other part of me is scared to death to find out.“Think of this as our engagement celebration.”“Engagement celebration, but you didn’t ask me to marry you.” Marriage? He’s comparing this to marriage.“I can if that will make it easier for you. You’re my bride, Charlie, in the eyes of vampires and in human terms.”“A dead bride, not a bride in a gorgeous white dress.”“Is that what you want? To walk down the aisle in a white dress in front of every single person you know?”“Maybe. Is that so hard to believe?“No.” He remains silent for a bit. I’m just about to say something
MaxwellI have no idea what has come over Charlie. The pained look on her face says it’s more than just her hand hurting. We enter our room with her arm intertwined with mine, but as soon as the door slams shut, she rips her arm away. I brace myself for the storm that’s about to come my way.“You need to explain yourself,” she says in a calm voice.“I know I should have told you about the kiss…and about the bloodletting, but I knew it would only make you more nervous.”“Not that, Maxwell. You need to explain what Benjamin said. I waited for you to say something about it first, but you remained quiet the whole ride over here. Is it true, that I’m the only female that’s a direct descendant from the Travors bloodline? That you’re ending my life because I’m your last chance at having a meal for however many more years?” “Charlie, stop,” I demand.As usual, she didn’t hear me or she doesn’t care as she continues to accuse me. “Oh, I’m definitely the person you’ve been looking for, all rig
CharlieI stomp my way over to my suitcase and throw any loose articles in before I harshly zip it up. Great one, Charlie, try not to be a complete bitch and still get scorned. I mean, who would look twice at me with Stella in the room? She has similarities to mine, but they look better on her. She’s skinnier, taller, more mature looking, and the best attribute she has is that she’s already dead. I deserve this, I tell myself.Sitting on the corner of the bed, I allow my head to fall into my hands. I can feel fresh, warm blood seep through my bandages and smear on my face, mixing with my tears. In the middle of arguing with myself, the pounding starts again. I didn’t bother listening to Maxwell’s speech. Part of me doesn’t want to hear his apologetic words as that same part of me believes what he says to be more lies.I laugh to myself as I hear him threaten to break down the door. But he’s completely serious because seconds later he crashes through the door. Splinters of wood scatter
MaxwellI haven’t slept for at least a day or so, because of the excitement of being this close to Charlie. It’s not necessary to sleep, but it allows me to cling to my once human self. Charlie gave me the perfect opportunity to make her into the vampire that she’s going to be one day. I could’ve tricked her and offered her the relief she is so looking for from her wound, but I just couldn’t do it.Before I know it, morning arrives. Even though this town doesn’t receive direct sunlight this time of year, I can still sense it. I slip out from under Charlie’s hand to get a head start on getting dressed. There’s business that needs to be handled before we leave this afternoon.Charlie wakes up a few hours after me. She walks out of the bedroom fully clothed, looking well rested. “What time do we leave?” she asks, overly anxious.“The plane will depart at two this afternoon.” The clock on the wall reads nine. “That leaves you three hours to try to occupy yourself.”“That leaves me? What a
CharlieWe reach Grace’s door and I’m just about to knock when Maxwell grabs my hand to stop me. “What?”“Let’s go downstairs to the party. We’ll surprise Grace there.” He can’t hide his emotions from me. I see concern etched into his features, tense lips and narrowed brows.“What are you not telling me?”“She has company and I think it’s best not to disrupt them.”“Who?” I know he knows who’s in there.“Benjamin,” he reluctantly says.“Is he being cruel to Grace?” After hearing that Benjamin takes advantage of Grace, I can’t help but want to give him a piece of my mind. Not to mention the pissed off part of me that wants to call him out on sending Stella to our room.“He’s in the middle of scolding Grace and it wouldn’t be best to make things worse.” His eyes are cast down to the floor.“What!” I bellow. Maxwell’s hand clamps across my mouth to keep me silent.“He’s yelling at her because she let us leave. Even though she’s not loyal to him, he still demands her to be. In the eyes of
MaxwellThe warmth coming from her body as she presses against me is intoxicating. I can feel my ice-cold body start to heat up in spots. It’s a weird feeling, but I welcome it because it tricks my subconscious into thinking it’s a step closer to being human. As she tugs a fistful of my hair and urges me to sink deeper into her neck, my fingertips dig into her skin. The sound of her hissing breath in my ear as I crush her only adds to my excitement.Lifting her off the ground, I spin us around, so we’re facing the direction that Benjamin is located in. I know he watches us and I want to see the look on his face. Within seconds after averting my gaze, I see him with clenched fists glaring at us. My mouth still suctions itself to Charlie’s neck, and my hands slide up and down her body. The curve of her butt fits perfectly in my palm. If I stretch far enough, I can touch her bare thigh.With Charlie’s hands still latched on to me, it gives us the reaction we’re hoping for. Benjamin break
CharlieUtter joy rushes through my body when The High Council plane’s engines hum to life. I sit in the same windowless window seat, Maxwell’s statue-like body next to me. As we soar into the sky, I can’t help but to be glad that we’re leaving the Posthotel Rattenberg behind…forever preferably.Maxwell’s ice-cold fingers graze my cheek pulling me away from my wandering mind. “Yes?”With a flick of his wrist, my phone comes into view. His fingers clutch down on it, leaving fingerprints on the screen. With manic relief I harshly rip it out of his hand and instantly turn it on. Dread and fear turn my annoyed attitude into something more, much more. “Thirty-six missed calls…fifty text messages. I didn’t think it was possible to make things worse, but congratulations, you’ve done it.” Under my breath I mutter. “That’s definitely something to be proud of.”“I strive to excel at everything.”“I’m sure you do.” I say in a hushed whisper. I want to be angry, but sadly that’s not the first emo
Maxwell“Grace, do you mind telling me what’s wrong? I mean, even Charlie realized something is bothering you and she doesn’t pay attention to either of us half the time.”“I’m going to be leaving for a while.” A tear escapes her eye and runs down her cheek.“Leaving for where?”“Home.”“Home? Why would you go back there? I thought you were haunted enough by the past these last few days. Why make it worse?”“Cambridge, it’s called Cambridge. Maybe going back will help me move past it all.”“Cambridge…” I say the word as if it were poison in my mouth, “has been nothing but cruelty and pain for both of us. If you were smart, you wouldn’t go back either.” I don’t mean to insult her in any way, but to bring back such gruesome heartbreaking memories is ridiculous. What type of person would ask to relive the worst period of their life? Grace refuses to acknowledge me. “I’ll be here when you get back,” I reluctantly say.I’m about to tell her there’s no need for me to leave when everything I