Dead Awakenings (21 page)

As they rolled up the long drive and past the trees she could see a large group gathered on the porch. Everyone from the house waited for them. Even a couple of other people she didn’t recognize. Her fear rose the closer they got. The men were gathered on the stairs. Abbey, Cami, and another couple of women waited as well. Karen was conspicuously absent.

Luca brought the vehicle around to a stop and killed the engine. For a moment they both sat in silence staring at the group. Luca reached for his door. She put out her hand to stop him.

“There is nothing for you to worry about.” His voice rang with a false cheer. Luca was not the enthusiastic type. Cautious yes, brooding definitely, enthusiastic—no. Evaine gave him a dubious look.

“Too much?”

“A bit, yeah.” She tried not to laugh.

Luca gave a weak smile and got out. Evaine sat staring at the faces on the porch. Like a panel of impartial judges, they were ready to pass sentence on her crimes. Luca held his hand out to help her. The idea of running again flashed into her mind. She stepped out of the car, resigned to her fate.

“We could still run away,” she whispered. Luca chuckled lightly and pulled her to her feet. Putting his arm around her waist he led her to the group. Luca nodded to Nate; Nate nodded back stiffly. Everyone stared in silence for a minute before Abbey and Cami pushed through the crowd down to the bottom of the porch. Victor put his arm out to stop Cami as she passed. She looked down at his hand and then up at his face. Cami flashed him her beautiful smile and he withdrew his hand, pushing it across his temple instead. Evaine had the distinct feeling there were images flying through his head that he was not enjoying. Cami continued forward, catching up to Abbey, who had reached the bottom step near Nate.

“You’re scaring the poor girl to death. Let me do it,” Abbey said.

Nate nodded.

The women stepped down to where Evaine stood. They both reached out at the same time and hugged Evaine. Luca let go as she was swooped up. Evaine was so shocked by the motion that she wasn’t sure what to say. Girls had never hugged her before. Girls had never even liked her before. Frozen on the spot, staring at Luca, Evaine let them hug her.

“We were so worried when you left. I’d only just found out what had been going on behind my back.” Abbey gave an unkind look to both Luca and Nate. “I had no idea. And when Luca told us you didn’t want to come home we were even more worried. We had a family council and everyone voted. We’ve come to offer you a permanent place in the house as a member of the family.”

“Yeah!” Cami finally chimed in. “So what do you say? Want to be sisters?”

Evaine’s eyes teared up for the millionth time. She was beginning to feel like a faucet. A family? She’d never had a family. She glanced around at the men. Nate smiled, Luca too. Bobby Lee gave her the thumbs up, and Ronan winked. Everyone waited for her to say something. Her throat was so tight that she couldn’t produce words, so she simply nodded her head.

The two women led her to the house. She heard the murmur of Luca’s voice. He was having a not so pleasant exchange with Nate, while Victor made his way down the steps to join them. As Evaine passed the other women at the top of the stairs Abbey introduced her to Shandy and MJ.

Evaine said a polite hello, and the women shook her hand. Shandy was tall and thin with unruly white spiky hair tipped with pink highlights. It stuck out all over her head like a punk hedgehog. MJ was also very tall with light brown-colored skin, as if someone hadn’t quite put enough cocoa in the milk. Small braids hung all over her head. She had large, wide-set almond-shaped eyes and full, pouty lips. If MJ had still been alive, she would have been a beautiful super model.

“Hey, Chicka,” MJ said. “Nice to meet you. Heard you’ve had a rough go of it so far. Don’t worry, Shandy and I’ll make sure you start havin’ some fun around here.”

“Yeah, there’s always a party when MJ’s around.” Shandy laughed.

“Hell yeah! And let me tell you those kids in the California Haven House really know how to liven things up. The first night we were there—”

“Let’s get Evaine inside.” Abbey broke into the well-meaning chatter. Evaine dropped her gaze so no one would see how their attention affected her.

Everyone chatted around her about MJ’s trip as they walked to the elevator. No one had attempted a trip that far away from the house in the human world since the California Haven had been set up. Even then they had gone by RV, not by plane. MJ told about how exciting it was. The rave scene was huge out there, and the Haven members didn’t have to do as much to hide or try to blend in as they did out here in the upper East Coast.

The elevator opened, and Shandy and MJ offered to wait for the next ride so that Cami and Abbey could take Evaine down alone. When the doors opened the three made their way down the hallway to the fork. Evaine turned to go down to her cell but Abbey grabbed her by the hand and pulled her the other way. Evaine couldn’t help but glance over guilty toward the wall in the kitchen. There was a dent where Luca had hit when she had thrown him. Passing the first room, which was Luca’s, to the second room in the dorm wing.

The room had been painted in a neutral cream color. The bed was done in blacks and whites with small red accent pillows. A large bookshelf swelled with books. An iPod with an iPod stereo sat on top of a metal desk with an ergonomic black chair positioned beside it.

“Do you like it?” Cami bounced. “We’ve been working on it for a week. I figured you for a red person, but Abbey said I couldn’t overdo it or you would never be able to get any sleep.”

Evaine stared for another minute before realization dawned on her. “This room is mine?”

“Of course, silly.” Cami winked.

They had made her a room of her own. She headed further inside. On the edge of the desk lay a folder called “Emergency Preparedness” by Aron Stocksman. It was an emergency guide to her new body. Evaine had no words; she’d never had a room of her own before except in her crappy little studio. And never one so nice.

“We put the few things you had in the wardrobe but you really will have to order everything else you need,” Abbey said.

The statement made something in Evaine’s mind stir, but she couldn’t figure out what, exactly.

“We’ll let you get used to your new room.” Cami took Abbey’s arm. “I’m across the hall, and of course Luca’s on the side of you, right there. Abbey’s in the upper house, if she isn’t down here. But you can always reach her on the house phone.” Cami pointed to a phone on the corner of the desk.

The two women slipped out of the room leaving Evaine to process. She plopped down heavily on the bed. It was all so normal and nothing like what she had ever had.

There was a small knock on the door. Luca walked in and took a seat next to her. He looked a bit worse for wear.

“You OK?” he asked.

She nodded. “I’m not used to having things I haven’t paid for. It makes me feel indebted.”

“Surely Tristan used to buy you things.”

“I never wanted Tristan for his money.”

“Didn’t he help you pay for school? I thought you two lived together.”

“Certainly not!” She was indignant. “I worked to pay for my schooling, and I would never live with someone before I was married.”

“I just thought…never mind.”

“Well, unlike you, I don’t believe in sex before marriage, so no, we didn’t.” That was a low blow, and she clapped her hands over her mouth as if that would take back what she had said. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean that. It’s just…it was always a very sore subject between Tristan and I. He wanted to, but I just couldn’t. I promised myself that I wouldn’t until I was married. It was difficult for Tristan. We were together for a long time. I told him to find someone else while he was away at school; I’m not naive to the fact that men have needs.” She looked down. Talking about Tristan made her chest ache.

Luca stroked her face with the back of his hand. Slowly he moved closer until he was an inch away. Evaine’s head swam as his soft lips touched her cool skin. Tracing her collarbone with his tongue he worked his way upward toward her mouth. His mouth was on hers, and the passion ignited between them. He intertwined his fingers in her hair. She raised her hands to touch the strong muscles of his chest; she liked the way they felt under her fingertips. Tristan had been strong and fit, but not muscular like Luca. Luca was a rock. He pulled her closer, warming up further. She pulled away.

“I’m sorry. I’m not ready. I want to, but Tristan… I still love him.”

“And you don’t love me.” Luca spoke matter-of-factly, pulling himself away.

“I didn’t say that. I’m not sure if I love you. I’m not sure what I feel. I’m connected to you, I need you, and I want you as I’ve never wanted anyone before. I don’t know if that is love or not. I’ve only ever loved Tristan. He’s the only one I’ve ever even dated. You’re different than him in just about every way. And everything I feel for you is different too. He’s a warm cozy fire that feels comfortable and easy. You’re a blaze that heats me in a moment and if I stay too close too long, I feel as though I’ll combust.”

“Then you do feel the same as I do.” He picked up her hand in his and gave her a fingers a soft kiss. “I love you more than I have ever loved another person. When I’m near you I can’t think straight; I can’t breathe for being near you. Everything inside me screams to be with you. I know that things are a bit much for you right now, so I’ll wait. I’ll wait for as long as you need me to, until you’re ready.” He let go and stood to leave, but she grabbed his hand.

“Don’t go. Just because I’m not sure what I feel doesn’t mean that I don’t want to be with you. Stay for a while.”

Luca sat down as she lay on the bed, scooting over so he could lay next to her. He wrapped his arms around her as she put her head on his shoulder. He stroked her hair lightly making her scalp tingle.

“Why did you stop painting?” She traced light patterns on his shirt with her fingers.

“After the rebirth I couldn’t anymore. I’d never believed in my talent. It was Mya who had always believed in me. After she was gone, I just didn’t feel it.”

“So you’ve never picked up a brush again?”

“I’m not the same man I was when I was alive. Soft, weak, naive. I saw the world through different eyes. The things I’ve seen and done since rebirthing… I don’t see the world as a beautiful place anymore.”

She didn’t ask any more questions. They lay there for a long time. She traced patterns on his black tight shirt before finally falling asleep.

* * *

For the first time, Luca really thought about painting again. His mind wandered to the photo of Evaine on Tristan’s Web site, her long wavy raven hair. He would have loved to have painted her like that. It felt so right to be holding her; he wanted to hold her forever. Luca knew that she loved him. She was just scared to admit it. She had run to Tristan, but she’d come back with him. Who could blame her for being scared of loving him? Look what he had become. An undead killing machine. He had cared for so little in the last few years. After Mya he had consumed himself with getting revenge on those who had taken everything from him. Finding and killing the soulless humans who’d caused his pain had been his only thought. But now his hatred was being replaced. By her. Feeling peace for the first time since he had rebirthed, Luca drifted off to sleep.

A tingling spread through his body and sparks danced on his lips. Then it was gone. His eyes flew open, as he sat up to see Cami at the door, talking in a low voice to Evaine. Cami’s eyes traveled past Evaine to the bed. Luca knew that he was in hot water in the house because of what had happened, especially with the women. Cami had sent all kinds of images flying into his mind’s eye when she had found out what he had done. They were not just unkind, they’d been brutal. Cami had showed him a couple of her experiences when she had gone off diet. A threat; showing him what she was capable of. It was an experience he didn’t wish to repeat.

“Nate and Aron need to see you. They think they’ve pinpointed where the next newborns are being held, and they want to get tactical together.”

Luca nodded and Cami left. He didn’t realize the vibes he must have been giving off until Evaine moved to him, pulling him into her arms. The tension in his muscles immediately began to relax.

Chapter Twenty-One

The group sat in the conference room. Nate, Abbey, Aron, Cami, Raze, and Quinten were all there, along with Ronan and lastly and most surprisingly, Karen. Karen filed her nails, and Evaine got the distinct impression that she was trying very hard
not
to look at her. Though Karen tried to act relaxed, anyone could see that her nails were getting the brunt of her anger.

Victor and Luca walked in. Evaine noticed out of the corner of her eye that as soon as Luca entered Karen sat up, put her file away, and flashed him a great big smile. Luca’s sights were trained on Evaine, and he made straight for where she waited, taking a seat between her and Victor. Under the table Luca squeezed her hand.

Nate gave Luca a hard look and then he began. “We have some newborns that just rebirthed. They haven’t awakened yet and if the process goes the same as it has in the past, we have about five days to find where they are being held and extract them before they fully awaken and are moved. Ronan is currently searching the usual reports for activity in the surrounding states. Hopefully Karen will be able to help with pinpointing them. We’ll send out teams of two to scout the buildings and pinpoint the locations of the newborns.”

Karen beamed as proudly as if she was the best egg layer in the hen house.

“How many are there?” Luca asked.

“Three that I can sense so far.” Karen looked straight at him, as if he had spoken to her.

“We’ll need to start researching extraction ideas as soon as we have the location. I don’t want any problems,” Nate said.

Everyone nodded in agreement. Nate’s gaze travelled from her to Luca and back again. “When Luca and Evaine were in the city they were approached by a few Feeders. They gave the pretense of offering shelter, but then became hostile. It’s my feeling that since they specifically said Damien wanted to talk to Evaine, they want something from her.”